• AFRL Leads Transition from Film to Digital Inspection

    Engineers from the Air Force Research Laboratory are paving the way for acceptance of digital radiography as the industry standard for radiographic inspection for aerospace parts. Air Force ManTech, the Defense Logistics Agency's ManTech, the Air Force Metals Affordability Initiative, and Original

  • Nanotechnology-Enhanced Lubricants Extend Life of Radio Frequency Switches

    Nanoparticle lubricant (NPL) technology, developed by scientists and engineers from the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), resulted in improvements in the lifecycle of noble metal ohmic contact radio frequency (RF) microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) switches developed for tactical radios.

  • Automated Aerial Refueling Team Tests Advanced Sensors

    Air Force Research Laboratory's (AFRL) Automated Aerial Refueling (AAR) team recently tested an updated Precision GPS (PGPS) algorithm, gathering valuable sensor data during a series of successful flight tests. The AAR program is developing technology to enable unmanned aircraft to refuel from

  • AIAA Honors AFRL Engineers as 2012 Fellows

    AFRL engineers Dr. David Doman and Dr. Miguel Visbal have recently been named AIAA Fellows for their longstanding excellence and service in the field of aerospace.Dr. Doman is a Principal Aerospace Engineer and serves as the Director of the Control Science Center of Excellence. He is an

  • AFRL Honors Researchers with 2012 Fellows Designation

    Seven of the Air Force Research Laboratory's top scientists and engineers have been chosen as 2012 AFRL Fellows, the organization's most prestigious honor. The Fellows Program recognizes outstanding career accomplishments while providing support for future endeavors by awarding each honoree

  • AFRL SBIR Program Technology Earns R&D 100 Award

    A new kind of optical fiber has been developed by AdValue Photonics, Inc., through a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program managed by the Air Force Research Laboratory. The new optical fiber enables the commercialization of high-power two micron Amplified Spontaneous Emission (ASE)

  • Micro Fuel Pump Technology Benefits Small, Heavy-Fuel Engines

    The rapid growth of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) used across the Department of Defense (DoD) has introduced propulsion system logistics support and operational power issues. One primary issue is the multitude of propulsion systems designed to use a variety of sometimes difficult to obtain fuels

  • Tape-Wrapped "Aeroshells" Cut Cost of Hypersonic Glide Vehicles

    The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) has developed and demonstrated a new process by tape-wrapping large, unique-shaped carbon-carbon aircraft shells, or aeroshells. Aeroshells are formed into a lifting body shape called Hypersonic Glide Vehicles, which are used as the primary structural element

  • Strategic sourcing solution demonstrates AF-wide benefits

    The Enterprise Sourcing Group at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base has transformed the airfields across the Air Force by replacing the incandescent taxiway fixtures to light emitting diode (LED) taxiway fixtures, through a strategic sourcing initiative. This multiple award contract was awarded 4 Aug