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 (BA1), Applied Research (BA2) and Advanced Technology Development (BA3) investments to ensure naval forces can effectively deter conflict, but when called upon, are equipped and prepared to fight, win and return 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. 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 supports higher guidance defined by the National Defense Strategy, and responds to requirements identified by the Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) 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. The basic research conducted within this PE supports areas of traditional, unique and emerging naval need to help ensure naval operational readiness and unsurpassed warfighting capabilities in the maritime domain. Basic research conducted within this Defense Research Sciences (DRS) PE has been organized around the following research areas of priority naval interest: - Information, Cyber and Spectrum Superiority - Ocean Battlespace Sensing - Mission capable, Persistent & Survivable Naval Platforms - Warfighter Performance - Naval Air Warfare and Weapons - Naval Research Laboratory - Base - ONR Global - In-House Laboratory Independent Research 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. The basic research conducted within this PE is expected to be at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 1 (basic principles observed and reported) up to TRL 2 (technology concept and/or application formulation). DRS basic research (BA1) results provide the foundation for later applied research (BA2) and advanced technology development (BA3) solution options for the Navy and Marine Corps. DRS research advancements and technology development accomplishments influence candidate solutions to the Navy and Marine Corps technical and operational challenges experienced by acquisition Programs of Record (PoR) via the Future Naval Capabilities (FNCs) portfolio. DRS research advancements are also 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. Due to the number of efforts in this PE, the projects described herein are representative of research conducted within this PE.
Document Details
- Document Type
- R2 Budgetary Justification
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2025
- Source ID
- 0601153N_1_1319_PB_2025
- Change Summary Explanation
- Funding: The 74.898M funding decrease to FY 2025 is due to a reduction in Basic Research for Strategic Competition investments and compliance with the Defense Planning Guidance for S&T Investments. In order to provide greater transparency and execution oversight of Department of the Navy Defense Research Science investments, funding has been transferred into eighteen new Projects. These projects were previously funded in this PE, 0601153N, PU 0000 and are not new starts. Technical: No significant change. Schedule: No significant change
- Service Agency Name
- Navy
Entities
Organizations
- United States Navy
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