The Air Force Office of Scientific Research in Arlington, Va. is evaluating thousands of research proposals it has received from scientists and researchers all over the world, in an effort to provide the US military with technological advantages in battle. An AFOSR release notes that about 40 AFOSR program managers control around $400 million in research funding. With that money, AFOSR supports more than 5,000 basic research projects worldwide. Applying the funding requires peer reviews of prospective proposals, involving internal and external scientists, who grade technical merit based on an AFOSR scale that aids in evaluating technological need and risk.
The Air Force is requesting about $141 million for initial enlistment bonuses in its fiscal 2026 budget, while Space Force wants $13 million.
