Driving military tech: Inside the Air Force Research Lab

Apr 3

Ryan Robertson Anchor

By Ryan Robertson (Anchor), Brett Baker (Senior Producer), Brian Spencer (Video Editor), Dakota Piteo (Senior Motion Designer)

When it comes to innovation, the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) stands as a cornerstone, driving technological advancements for the Air Force and, since 2019, the Space Force. Established in 1997, the AFRL has been instrumental in developing technologies that have found their way into various aircraft and spacecraft.

According to James Bieryla, director of AFRL Strategic Partnering, the laboratory’s impact extends far beyond its headquarters at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio.

Download the SAN app today to stay up-to-date with Unbiased. Straight Facts™.

Point phone camera here

“The laboratory is not just one building. It is spread across the United States,” Bieryla said.

With research sites scattered across 10 states and a workforce exceeding 12,500 individuals, the AFRL strategically positions itself to collaborate closely with both the warfighter and external organizations developing relevant technologies.

The AFRL’s work can be seen in iconic projects like the F-35 and the B-21, currently undergoing tests at Edwards Air Force Base. However, its contributions also extend to lesser-known projects that play an important role in maintaining America’s technological edge over near-peer adversaries.

“We have a great team leads, we got great engineers, we have a vast pool of people, cross director today FRL and cross service that are all making significant contributions to this,” said Dr. Ben Dickinson, from the Weapons Dynamics & Controls Sciences Branch.

The AFRL comprises 12 directorates, each focusing on distinct areas such as human performance and space vehicles, all with a unified goal of supporting the warfighter wherever they may be deployed.

Despite the evolving of military budgets and threats from adversaries like Beijing and Moscow, Bieryla emphasized that the AFRL remains steadfast in its mission to rapidly and affordably deliver technology to the hands of airmen and guardians.

“Everything we do has a fierce focus on making sure that ultimately, our airmen or guardians, our warfighters, get that technology and get it into their hands and get it into their hands quickly. And as affordably as possible,” Bieryla said.

While the AFRL’s primary focus is on military applications, its contributions have had widespread civilian impacts, exemplified by technologies like the Global Positioning System (GPS), originally developed for military use but now ubiquitous in consumer devices like smartphones.

The AFRL’s dedication to innovation and collaboration continues to shape the future of air and space operations, ensuring that the United States remains at the forefront of technological advancement in the defense sector.

Access the full Weapons and Warfare episode here.

Access all Weapons and Warfare podcast episodes here.

Tags: Air Force, Air Force Research Lab

[RYAN ROBERTSON]

WHEN YOU THINK OF THE WORD LABORATORY WHAT COMES TO MIND? CERTAINLY HOLLYWOOD HAS PROVIDED SOME INSPIRATION OVER THE YEARS.

ENTERTAINING NO DOUBT, BUT FAR FROM THE SILVER SCREEN, THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO MAKE UP THE AIR FORCE RESEARCH LABORATORY ARE WORKING ACROSS THE U-S, FROM NEW YORK TO MAUI ON VERY REAL SOLUTIONS, TO VERY REAL PROBLEMS.

SINCE 1997 THE AFRL’S MISSION HAS BEEN TO DISCOVER, DEVELOP AND BRING NEW TECHNOLOGIES TO THE FIGHT FOR THE AIR FORCE, AND STARTING IN LATE 2019, THE SPACE FORCE.

[James Bieryla, Director, AFRL Strategic Partnering]

“We do that on purpose, right? Because we want to, we want to make sure that we’re out there, both close to the warfighter, but also close to the different organizations that might have technology that that we’re interested in.”

[RYAN ROBERTSON]

IF YOU WANT EASY EXAMPLES OF WHERE YOU CAN FIND THE AFRL’S WORK BIERYLA SAYS LOOK NO FURTHER THAN THE F-35 OR THE B-21 THAT’S CURRENTLY TESTING AT EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE. THEY’RE ALSO WORKING ON MANY OTHER PROJECTS THAT MAY NEVER BECOME HOUSEHOLD NAMES, BUT WILL STILL PLAY A BIG PART IN HELPING THE US STAY IN FRONT OF NEAR-PEER ADVERSARIES LIKE RUSSIA AND CHINA. PROJECTS LIKE THE MUTANT MISSILE THAT WE FEATURED IN FEBRUARY.

[Dr. Ben Dickinson, Weapons Dynamics & Controls Sciences Branch]

“We have a great team leads, we got great engineers, we have a vast pool of people, cross director today FRL and cross service that are all making significant contributions to this, this, this system would not be where it is today, if we did not have the partnerships that we’ve created, and that has been crucial to our success”

[RYAN ROBERTSON]

THERE ARE 12 DIRECTORATES THAT FALL UNDER THE UMBRELLA OF AFRL. EVERYTHING FROM HUMAN PERFORMANCE TO SPACE VEHICLES. ALL OF WHICH HAVE THE SAME END GOAL. HELPING THE WARFIGHTER, WHEREVER THAT FIGHT MAY BE.

[Dr. Brian Beal, Principal Aerospace Engineer]

“I know. It’s a great source of pride for the lab and for myself, to be able to support both the Air Force and the Space Force. But I’ll say from my perspective, there were really no seams between the two. I don’t, I don’t worry from day to day of the people. I’m working with our Air Force or Space Force. It’s all part of one big team and that’s been great.”

[RYAN ROBERTSON]

NOT UNNOTICED BY THOSE DOING THE WORK AT THE AFRL, ARE THE WINDS OF CHANGE SWIRLING AROUND THE AIR AND SPACE FORCES, BUDGETING CONCERNS FROM WASHINGTON D-C., AND EVOLVING THREATS FROM AMERICA’S ADVERSARIES IN BEIJING AND MOSCOW. DESPITE ALL OF THAT, BIERYLA SAYS THE CORE OF THEIR MISSION REMAINS UNCHANGED.

[James Bieryla, Director, AFRL Strategic Partnering]

[RYAN ROBERTSON]

WHILE THE AFRL’S EFFORTS ARE FOCUSED ON MILITARY APPLICATIONS, THERE ARE ALSO CIVILIAN BENEFITS, LIKE THE GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM, OR G-P-S, WHICH STARTED OUT AS PROPRIETARY TECHNOLOGY THAT EVENTUALLY MADE ITS WAY INTO YOUR SMARTPHONE.