Patriot Exercise Prompts Key User Feedback

During the Air National Guard's annual international Operation Global Patriot exercise, a C-5A loadmaster tries on the Advanced Head-Mounting Flight Environmental Device to assess its comfort, fit, and integration with his communications set. (Air Force photo)

Laser Bioeffects Research a Dazzling SBIR Success

Members of the AFRL 711th Human Performance Wing, Human Effectiveness Directorate, Ophthalmic Imaging and Laser Damage team completed an experiment with important implications to understanding laser-induced effects on biological systems. Pictured left to right are Dr. Jeff Oliver (AFRL), Dr. Rebecca Vincelette (AFRL), Ms. Aurora Shingledecker (Northrop Grumman Information Technology [NGIT]), Ms. Ginger Pocock (AFRL), and Mr. Kurt Schuster (NGIT).

USAFSAM educates 6000 students each year

Motivated students, systematic training, and job-specific education enable USAFSAM to turn out over 6,000 fully qualified new medical professionals each year for critical roles within the Air Force and its partner organizations.

World's Smallest Semiconductor Laser

AFOSR-MURI and National Science Foundation-funded professor, Dr. Xiang Zhang has demonstrated at the University of California, Berkeley the world’s smallest semiconductor laser, which may have applications to the Air Force in communications, computing and bio-hazard detection.

Starfire Optical Range at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico

The Air Force Research Laboratory's Starfire Optical Range is a vital resource in achieving the Air Force mission to operate freely in space. This world-class optical research facility and center for Air Force strategic optical exploration is on a hilltop site (6,240 feet above sea level) on Kirtland AFB, N.M. The SOR primary mission is to develop optical sensing, imaging and atmospheric propagation technologies to support Air Force aerospace missions. This facility leads the industry changing technology of laser beacon adaptive optics for military uses and civilian applications such as astronomy. It is a major component of the AFRL Directed Energy Directorate. U.S. Air Force photo

Shiva Star

Research into the military applications of high-energy pulsed power systems is conducted in the 34,261-square-foot Air Force Research Laboratory Directed Energy Directorate, High Power Systems Facility. The facility houses Shiva Star, the Air Force largest pulsed-power system. Shiva Star stores nearly 10 million joules of energy (equal to 5 pounds of TNT). U.S. Air Force photo.

AFRL Sensors Scientist Earns Air Force Science and Engineering Award

Dr. Boris Tomasic, of the Air Force Research Laboratory's Sensors Directorate, earned the 2009 Air Force Science and Engineering Award for Exploratory or Advanced Technology Development. The award recognizes noteworthy achievements in applied research or advanced technology development, with emphasis on improving technology readiness levels, transitioning technology into acquisition programs, and/or direct-fielding technology to operational forces.

Payload Demonstration Success a 'Project Marti' Party

Air Force Research Laboratory engineers used this high-altitude (60,000-85,000 ft) balloon in demonstrating the feasibility of a new payload that supports tactical operations by enabling airborne publish-and-subscribe database access and geographically extended machine-to-machine situational awareness in limited-bandwidth battlefield environments. (Photo Credit: Mathew Gillen)

Geodesic Dome Phased-Array Antenna Demonstrates TT&C Capacity

The Geodesic Dome Phased-Array Antenna Advanced Technology Demonstration proved the antenna's capacity to provide multiple, simultaneous, dual-band (L-band and S-band) contacts for telemetry, tracking, and command of Air Force Satellite Control Network satellites.

Affordability Initiative Software Lowers Aircraft Engine Component Costs

Air Force Research Laboratory engineers worked with GE Aircraft Engine Group, Rolls Royce Corporation, and other industry partners to develop and transition a new manufacturing methodology that uses enhanced DEFORM software to lower the costs of producing components such as the pictured aircraft engine disk.

T-REX Hits New Heights in Human Performance Training Research

Observers measure warfighter performance during T-REX 09-1, an important Training Research Exercise conducted by the Air Force Research Laboratory Warfighter Readiness Research Division's Air and Space Operations Center and geared towards investigating immersive learning, information simulation, and other leading-edge training tactics. (Photo by Bruce Liddil / Air Force photo)

Louisiana Civic Leaders tour Eglin AFB

Briefer Brian Mitchell informs a group of civic leaders about past, present and future war technology, in the Taconi Room of the Air Force Research Laboratory Munitions Directorate at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., October 22, 2009. More than twenty-six influential civic leaders from the Shreveport/Bossier City area of Louisiana gained first-hand knowledge of operations of the Air Force during a two-day “Civic Leader Tour” flight from Barksdale Air Force Base, La., to Eglin on October 21-22, 2009. The leaders received several mission briefings and viewed a static display of the MC-130 Combat Talon I as well as touring several facilities at Eglin AFB and Duke Field, Fla. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Jeff Walston)