Defense Research Sciences
Abstract
The Office of Naval Research (ONR) was established by Congress in 1946 to plan, foster and encourage scientific research in recognition of its paramount importance to the maintenance of American naval power and national security. ONR manages the Department of the Navy's (DON) portfolio of Basic Research, Applied Research and Advanced Technology Development investments to ensure naval forces can effectively deter conflict, but when called upon, are equipped and prepared to fight, win and come home safely. This Defense Research Sciences (DRS) Program Element (PE) supports the Basic Research (BA1) portion of the Department of the Navy (DON) science and technology (S&T) portfolio, laying the foundation for new innovative technologies and future capabilities for naval warfighters. The basic research conducted within this PE include theoretical and experimental investigations directed toward increasing our knowledge and understanding of the physical, chemical, engineering, environmental and life sciences. The preponderance of research conducted within this PE is performed by academia and government labs, both of which play significant roles in developing the S&T workforce of tomorrow in addition to delivery new knowledge and scientific discoveries. This PE, and the rest of Naval S&T, supports higher guidance defined by the National Defense Strategy, and responds to requirements identified by the Secretary of the Navy through research priorities set by the Chief of Naval Research (CNR) and coordinated across the Naval Research Enterprise (NRE). Research activities support long-term investments as outlined in an S&T Strategic Plan. Basic research conducted within this PE support additional areas of naval need such as ONR's National Naval Responsibilities (NNR). NNR's are examples of S&T investment areas in topic areas where the Navy has historically taken the lead (ocean acoustics, undersea weapons, naval engineering, undersea medicine and sea-based aviation) to ensure decisive naval capability in the maritime domain. The basic research conducted within this Defense Research Sciences (DRS) PE is conducted in the following research areas of naval interest: - Air, Ground & Sea Vehicles; - Atmosphere & Space Sciences; - Science Addressing Hybrid Threats; - Human Systems; - Mathematics, Computer, & Information Sciences; - Materials/Processes; - Medical and Biological Sciences; - Ocean Sciences; - Science & Engineering Education, Career Development & Outreach - Sensors, Electronics & Electronic Warfare (EW); and - Weapons. Research advancements and fundamental science breakthroughs within these research areas of naval priority interest establish a foundation that provides an opportunity to mature concepts through continued exploration and more narrowly focused applied research applications. The thoughtful, systematic study of fundamental phenomena towards more naval specific environments, applications and warfighting solutions is critical to long-term naval operational and security needs. DRS basic research (BA1) results provide the foundation for applied research (BA2) and advanced technology development (BA3) solution options for the Navy and Marine Corps. DRS research advancements and technology development become candidate solutions to Navy and Marine Corps technical challenges experienced by Program of Record via the Future Naval Capabilities (FNCs) portfolio. DRS research advancements are fundamentally relevant to more general, fundamental naval warfighting concepts and approaches by opening up new potential warfighting capability options via the Innovative Naval Prototypes (INPs) portfolio. Just as today's Sailors and Marines are enabled by past naval S&T investments, current investments hedge against uncertainty, providing the scientific basis for near-term solutions to commanders today and options for an unknown future. The research conducted within this PE is considered to be at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 1 (basic principles observed and reported) and TRL 2 (technology concept and/or application formulation). Due to the number of efforts in this PE, the programs described herein are representative of the work included in this PE.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Project
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2025
- Source ID
- 0000_0601153N_1_1319_PB_2025
Related Documents
- Root: Defense Research Sciences
- Child Accomplishment: Air, Ground and Sea Vehicles
- Child Accomplishment: Atmosphere and Space Sciences
- Child Accomplishment: Science Addressing Hybrid Threats
- Child Accomplishment: Human Systems
- Child Accomplishment: Mathematics, Computer, and Information Sciences
- Child Accomplishment: Materials/Processes
- Child Accomplishment: Medical and Biological Sciences
- Child Accomplishment: Ocean Sciences
- Child Accomplishment: Science and Engineering Education, Career Development and Outreach
- Child Accomplishment: Sensors, Electronics and Electronic Warfare (EW)
- Child Accomplishment: Weapons