Lincoln Laboratory Research Program

Mission— Cyber Security, Science and Engineering

The Cyber Security, Science and Engineering research project focuses on the development of technologies and new techniques for the protection of systems against cyber- attack and exploitation. Efforts include research into technologies for cyber situational awareness, command and control; technology to improve resilience of systems to cyber-attack; and technologies for system exploitation research. The Cyber Security, Science and Engineering research project, 815, supports innovative research that addresses critical national security problems in cyber. The project funds innovations that directly lead to the development of new system concepts, technologies, and algorithms in support of DoD missions. Funding supports high-risk, high-payoff research, which provides unique and specialized capabilities for the current and emerging needs of the Department.

Mission— Lincoln Laboratory Research Program

This program supports the Department's initiative to Build Sustainable and Long-Term Advantage. The MIT Lincoln Laboratory (MIT LL) research program element is focused on advanced technology research and development effort conducted through a cost reimbursable contract with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). The MIT LL project supports innovative, multi-disciplined research that addresses critical national security problems. The project funds innovations that directly lead to the development of new system concepts, technologies, components, and materials in support of Department of Defense (DoD) missions. As of FY 2023, the program element funds nine technology areas. Of the nine areas, five are core-technology areas, three are emerging-technology initiatives and one Integrated Systems technology area. The four core-technology areas are Advanced Devices; Optical Systems and Technology; Information, Computation and Exploitation Sciences, Radio-Frequency (RF) Systems and Technologies, and Cyber Security Science and Engineering. The three emerging-technology areas are Advanced Materials and Processes; Quantum System Sciences; and Autonomous Systems. The one Integrated Systems technology area focuses on combining novel component-level technologies to create system-level technology solutions for important DoD problems. These technology areas provide critical capabilities that support all DoD mission areas pursued at the Laboratory. The categories are selected in consultation with the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (OUSD(R&E)) aligned with the DoD Communities of Interest (CoIs), and with guidance from other DoD agencies to address technology as well as system needs. The research in these categories adapts to solve emerging DoD problems as well as long-standing problems to which new technology advances can be applied. The individual efforts in each area are selected with the goal of enhancing DoD capabilities significantly, rather than incrementally.

Mission— Lincoln Laboratory

This project supports the long-term strategic technology capabilities within the DoD in established and emerging mission areas. Each year, MIT LL in coordination with the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (OUSD(R&E)) reviews and selects projects focusing on addressing technology gaps in critical problems facing national security. Factors considered in the selection include ability to accelerate development, have impact, and provide innovation in the DoD critical technology areas. Selection of projects derives from an annual, highly selective proposal process in which demand for funding exceeds supply by nearly a factor of three. Successful projects often result in advanced capabilities that lead to further sponsored-program development. The Lincoln Laboratory (LL) research areas that comprise this overall research and development portfolio are described below. Core-technology areas: • Advanced Devices emphasizes the development of devices and subsystems utilizing microelectronic, photonic, biological, and chemical technologies to enable new approaches to DoD systems. Efforts include technologies for high power Radio Frequency (RF) devices; multi-function, highly integrated lasers; fast and sensitive imagers; and mechanical microsystems for autonomous systems. • Optical Systems and Technology focuses on developing optical technologies for visible, infrared, and wide band spectroscopic sensing as well as communications systems. The efforts include high energy lasers; scalable focal plane imaging technology; photonic integrated circuits; optical system prototypes; and associated phenomenology measurements. • Information, Computation and Exploitation Sciences develops novel architectures, tools, and techniques for the processing, fusion, interpretation, computation, and exploitation of multi-sensor, multi-intelligence data. Efforts include innovative hardware and software technologies for graph processors and cloud computing; artificial intelligence (AI) and graph algorithms for analytics, including deep learning algorithms; multi-intelligence analytics, including open-source data processing techniques; and human-machine interfacing and automation technologies to enhance warfighter effectiveness and ability to work with advanced computing systems. • Radio Frequency (RF) Systems and Technology focuses on RF technologies to enhance warfighting capabilities in radars, electronic warfare (EW), and communications. Efforts include development of next generation phased arrays; ultra-wideband RF systems; compact RF systems; small satellite RF payload; and advanced algorithms for jammer mitigation and EW. Emerging-technology areas: • Advanced Materials and Processes emphasizes research in new materials for additive manufacturing and emerging nanoscale materials. Efforts include research in understanding and controlling diamond chemical vapor deposition to support emerging and future applications; novel growth and transfer strategies for low-defect III-V devices; microwave circuits built with 3D printing; programmable shape change materials; and microsystems using metamaterials. • Quantum System Sciences focuses on the development of quantum-based technologies that support sensing, communication, computation, and algorithms using quantum information. Efforts include the demonstration of scalable computation platforms, magnetic field sensing using highly-compact, atomic-like defects in diamond, prototyping revolutionary quantum networking systems and technology, and research into advanced quantum algorithms and their applications. • Autonomous Systems has the objective of developing mobile, autonomous, robotic platforms, as well as sensors and algorithms that support key capabilities needed for a wide range of DoD applications. Efforts span advanced artificial intelligence (AI) and processing; sensors and communications for unmanned platforms; platform designs and energy systems; human-machine interactions; and verification and validation of autonomous systems. Systems technology area: • Integrated Systems technology efforts use multiple new technologies to solve important national problems. Efforts selected for funding have an applied research component focused on integrated technology capability or technologies that facilitate greater levels of integrated capability. Projects target key DoD warfare domains, including space, air, land, sea surface, and undersea. Beginning in FY 2026 the program element will be adjusted to focus on consolidated, core technologies in Intelligent Systems; Microelectronics; Quantum Computing and Interconnects; and Sensing and Communication. The system level technology area of Integrated Systems will remain as before

Accomplishments & Planned Programs (9)