Force Protection Applied Research

The Force Protection Applied Research (PE 0602123N) program, managed by the Office of Naval Research (ONR), is a key component of the Navy's applied research portfolio aimed at enhancing the protection and operational capabilities of all naval platforms surface, subsurface, terrestrial, and air. The overarching goal is to ensure technological superiority for the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps by developing innovative solutions that deter, avoid, and, if necessary, enable decisive engagement with adversary platforms or weapons. This program supports research in areas such as C5ISR/Naval Space, Autonomy/AI, Human & Biological Systems, Directed Energy & Kinetic Systems, Materials/Electronics, Power and Energy, Naval Engineering, Naval Aerospace, Undersea Systems, and Ocean, Atmosphere, & Space.

Efforts in aircraft technology focus on advancing technologies for naval aviation platforms, emphasizing reduced observables, improved mission effectiveness, extended range, enhanced survivability, and lower life cycle costs. Objectives include developing new air vehicle concepts, autonomous command and control systems, advanced propulsion and thermal management solutions, and next-generation materials for fixed and rotary wing aircraft. Research activities cover high-fidelity modeling, control systems for extreme maneuvers, ship/aircraft aerodynamic interface analysis, and innovative manufacturing and repair methods for airframes. These efforts aim to increase aircraft availability, reduce sustainment requirements, and improve operational readiness.

Fleet force protection and defense against undersea threats focuses on developing multispectral sensor technologies and processing capabilities to improve situational awareness and self-protection for naval platforms, particularly small surface, subsurface, and airborne assets. The program supports research into advanced materials for sensor technology, real-time detection of explosives and hazardous chemicals, and acoustic stealth for submarines and surface ships. Key objectives include enhancing the Navy's ability to detect and track threats in littoral environments, improving acoustic signature measurement and reduction, and advancing sensor integration for platform protection.

Advanced energetics addresses the development of high-performance energetic materials for warheads, propellants, and reactive subsystems, with a focus on both offensive and defensive applications. Research goals include creating new fuels, oxidizers, and explosive formulations, improving simulation tools for lethality and vulnerability assessment, and advancing manufacturing processes for energetic materials. The program emphasizes safety, reliability, and affordability while seeking to extend weapon range, reduce time-to-target, and enhance lethality without compromising insensitive munitions requirements.

Surface ship and submarine hull mechanical and electrical (HM&E) research aims to deliver technologically superior warfighting capabilities at reduced ownership costs through advancements in power, energy, propulsion, engineering, and design. Key focus areas include power and energy resiliency, hydrodynamics, platform structures, unmanned vehicle autonomy, platform survivability, and digital engineering. The program invests in superconducting cables, advanced energy storage, thermal management, and digital twins to support directed energy weapons, sensor systems, and resilient platform designs. Efforts also target signature reduction across acoustic, electromagnetic, optical, and infrared spectrums, as well as enhanced damage control and recoverability.

Naval Research Enterprise (NRE) and innovation operations are designed to foster agile, mission-driven problem solving and rapid prototyping within the Naval Research and Development Establishment (NR&DE) and academia. The Independent Applied Research (IAR) Program supports high-risk, high-reward research initiatives, workforce development, and collaboration with universities and industry. Projects are selected through rigorous peer review and focus on technology transition, warfighter needs, and recruitment and retention of top scientists and engineers.

Congressional adds supplement the core program with targeted research initiatives, such as additive manufacturing for metal matrix composites, alternative energy technologies, advanced materials and manufacturing, AI-enabled supply chain logistics, energy resilience, and autonomous systems. These projects often involve partnerships with academic institutions and industry to accelerate technology development and address specific operational challenges, such as corrosion control, cavitation erosion, titanium refinement, and sUAS degraded environment testing.