A budget document released by the Office of Science and Technology Policy identified research supported by the Department of Defense as one of the “Priorities for Federal Research and Development in the 2012 Budget,” stating:
“The 2012 Budget invests in the Department of Defense’s (DOD) long-term scientific and
technological innovation to ensure that the Nation has access to the best defense systems in the
world. The Budget proposes $76.6 billion for DOD R&D, a $4.0 billion decrease from the
2010 funding level, including $12.3 billion for early-stage science and technology programs
(S&T). The Budget proposes $3.0 billion for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) for its support of longer-term breakthrough research.”
The document highlights basic research:
“The 2012 Budget sustains DOD’s basic research (‘6.1’) with a record commitment of $2.1 billion, an increase of 14.5 percent over the 2010 funding level, and provides increases for research in high-priority areas such as cybersecurity, advanced learning, information access, systems engineering, power distribution, and energy storage. DOD-funded research provides future affordable options for new defense systems and helps the Nation avoid technological surprise by potential adversaries. The Budget also prepares for emerging threats and sustains the U.S. nuclear deterrent.”
A 227-page budget document prepared by the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller) entitled “RDT&E Programs (R-1)” provides considerable numerical data on various science and technology programs. Below are figures from this document, with percentage changes based on the difference between the FY 2010 base and the FY 2012 base request. Note that it is customary for an administration to not request funding for earmarked projects.
Total 6.1 Basic Research
The FY 2010 appropriation was $1,814.7 million
The FY 2012 request is $2,078.5 million, an increase of 14.5 percent or $263.8 million
Total 6.2 Applied Research
The FY 2010 appropriation was $4,984.1 million
The FY 2012 request is $4,687.3 million, a decline of 6.0 percent or $296.8 million
Total 6.3 Advanced Technology Research
The FY 2010 appropriation was $6,506.9 million.
The FY 2012 request was $5,481.2 million, a decline of 15.8 percent or $1,025.7 million
Total Army 6.1, 6.2, and 6.3
The FY 2010 appropriation was $3,108.0 million
The FY 2012 request is $2,283.0 million, a decline of 26.5 percent or $825.0 million
Total Navy 6.1, 6.2, and 6.3
The FY 2010 appropriation was $2,113.5 million
The FY 2012 request is $2,009.4 million, a decline of 4.9 percent or $104.1 million
Total Air Force 6.1, 6.2, and 6.3
The FY 2010 appropriation was $2,440.8 million
The FY 2012 request is $2,286.2 million, a decline of 6.3 percent or $154.6 million
Total Defense-Wide 6.1, 6.2, and 6.3
The FY 2010 appropriation was $5,643.6 million
The FY 2012 request is $5,668.4 million, an increase of 0.4 percent or $24.8 million
Richard M. Jones
Government Relations Division
American Institute of Physics
rjones@aip.org
301-209-3095
