Air Force Research Laboratory

Collaborative Combat Aircraft, known as CCA, are uncrewed weapon systems leveraging United States Air Force investments in autonomy and crewed-uncrewed teaming to project air power against adversaries. #AFResearchLab | #AFRLTech | #USAF

In this edition of Linked into AFRL, we dig into: A state-of-the-art lab space for integrating test units for next-generation re-entry vehicle research Developing technologies that empower Airmen and Guardians to make faster, better, and more accurate decisions Collaboration with small businesses to accelerate the transition of innovative ideas from concept to capability #AFResearchlab | #REVIL | #HumanMachineTeaming | #AFRLOutreach

“Talent hits a target no one else can hit; genius hits a target no one else can see." The above Arthur Schopenhauer quote, shared by our Executive Director Timothy Sakulich, drove home the sentiment of AFRL's Small Business Office 2024 gains during this years enterprise-wide Small Business Summit, hosted at Dayton Tech Town. Learn more about how our #SmallBusiness Office is on track to meet and beat last year's performance. #AFResearchLab | #AFRLSmallBusiness | #USAirForce | #USSpaceForce | #Partnerships

Missile Utility Transformation via Articulated Nose Technology (MUTANT) is an articulation control actuation system technology that increases missile effectiveness at longer range against moving targets through active, rapid and smooth pivoting of the missile forebody. This enables the warfighter to destroy air targets at scale, with higher confidence and fewer weapons. MUTANT is actively working to transition this technology and enable warfighter use. #AFResearchLab | #AFRLMUTANT |

Save-the-Date: the AFRL Scholars Program application window for Summer 2025 opens October 10th! The AFRL Scholars Program offers stipend-paid internship opportunities for undergraduate and graduate-level university students pursuing STEM degrees, and upper-level high school students. The selected interns gain valuable hands-on experience working with full-time AFRL scientists and engineers on cutting-edge research and technology and contribute to unique, research-based projects. The Program spans AFRL locations – including Eglin Air Force Base in Florida. Just this summer Eglin hosted 76 scholars, 25 returning scholars and 34 mentors, representing 38 different prestigious academic institutions. In addition to benefitting the growing AFRL workforce and the scholars’ personal academic journeys, the program often benefits the scientific community at large, sometimes resulting in published scientific works that can be cited in future studies. Grace Hickey, a Florida State University undergraduate student studying Cell and Molecular Neuroscience and Computational Science, is one scholar whose work is set to be published. Under the mentorship of Dr. Marisa McDonald, a National Research Council Postdoctoral Associate in AFRL’s Munitions Directorate, Hickey’s project was focused on different electrophysiological properties of insect vision. “We realized that we could not only answer a question for our lab with the data I was collecting but also fill a niche in the scientific literature,” Hickey said. “Science is all about asking questions and then trying to answer them, so I love that I’m getting to leave my mark in a way that can help other scientists answer their questions and further our knowledge about the field.” AFRL STEM Coordinator Brian Mitchell emphasizes the program’s broader impact on both the students and the workforce. “We have a responsibility to help create the next generation of scientists, engineers and technicians for the Air Force, the Space Force and society,” said Mitchell. “We need to work hard to set those kids on a path that makes STEM exciting and thrilling, a path that shows them that they can do amazing things. If we do it right, we can change the world.” To learn more about internship programs offered by the AFRL, visit https://lnkd.in/gEpX7NVz. #AFRLInterns | #AFRLCareers |

Join our team as we "REVEL" in the future of research and development surrounding space-based re-entry vehicles! 🚀🌎 Our teams just broke ground on the upcoming Re-Entry Vehicle Integration Laboratory, or REVIL, which you can learn all about below. 👇 #AFResearchLab | #AFRLTech | #ReEntryVehicle | #AFRLSpace

Meet Orlando De La Garza, evaluations engineer and tech manager, at the innovation arm of the Department of the Air Force, powered by AFRL, known as AFWERX. Orlando grew up in south Texas before joining the United States Marine Corps, where he served eight years before returning to school. After his military service, Orlando became an intern through AFRL’s Scholars program and eventually joined the AFRL in a permanent role. Alongside his engineering position, he serves as the current President of the AFRL Junior Force Council. Orlando has five siblings and shared, “Growing up in a border town and being bilingual, you never speak either the right Spanish or English.” Growing up in a big family, Orlando eventually grew out of his shell and discovered himself and his career. Orlando advises others looking to pursue a similar career path to “push towards the goals you wish to achieve because if you continue to push, that goal becomes reachable.” #AFResearchlab | #HispanicHeritageMonth | #EmployeeSpotlight

Talk about a star-studded event! Former AFRL Commanders - Major General Scott Cain and Major General (Ret.) Heather Pringle - joined current AFRL Commander Brigadier General Jason Bartolomei at one of our technology booths at the #AFANational Conference this week. Learn more about the capabilities and technologies AFRL had on display: https://lnkd.in/gdcCuC5g #AFResearchLab | #AFANational | #ThrowbackThursday

How do we rapidly develop and build autonomous collaborative platforms? Low Cost Attritable Aircraft Platform Sharing (LCAAPS) leverages best practices of consumer industries to rapidly develop and build autonomous collaborative platforms in large numbers. It aims to achieve affordable mass by streamlining the design and development process. The XQ-67A, an Off-Board Sensing Station uncrewed air vehicle that saw its first successful flight in February 2024, proves the feasibility of this approach and demonstrates how wholly new acquisition processes can deliver capability to the warfighter more quickly and efficiently. If you're at the #AFANational Conference stop by the AFRL booths to learn more. #AFResearchLab |#AFRL | #AirForce

What is AFRL's Grasshopper? 🦗 Grasshopper is a cost-efficient, air-dropped, autonomously-navigated glider that delivers materiel to operators on the ground. The program leverages low-cost manufacturing techniques to keep production costs at approximately $40,000 per vehicle to provide an asymmetric capability for cargo delivery. The Grasshopper team is accelerating the capability timeline by establishing a close interaction between AFRL and Air Force Special Operations Command users that facilitates immediate customer feedback and rapid flight testing. As we "hop" into day two of the Air & Space Forces Association's Air, Space and Cyber Conference, join us at booths 503 and 1834 to learn more about Grasshopper and other AFRL capabilities #AFResearchLab | #AFANational | #AirForce