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 Pentagon has concluded a new agreement to buy laser-guidance kits that turn rockets into drone-killing weapons. BAE Systems and the Defense Department announced a framework deal of up to seven years for 25,000 Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System guidance kits annually for the U.S. military.