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and nanotechnology and if it is to be effective in harnessing these technolo-
gies for future Air Force systems.
DoD and the Air Force have historically
funded a majority share of the nation's research in information technologies.
Their funding retrenchment represents a national de-emphasis on the future
of this critically important war-fighting capability.
Finding P2.
The military market for many micro- and nanotechnologies
(e.g., advanced computing, communications, and sensing) is small in com-
parison with commercial markets. Yet, the Air Force and DoD have mission-
specific requirements not satisfied by the commercial market. Military-spe-
cific applications will not be supported by industry without government and
Air Force investment, particularly in basic research.
Recommendation P2.
The Air Force should concentrate its efforts in micro-
and nanotechnology on basic research at the front end and on Air Force-
specific applications at the back end.
Rather than competing with the com-
mercial sector, the Air Force should stay strongly connected to commercial
advances and adapt them to Air-Force-specific requirements.
Finding P3.
The Air Force has recognized the importance of micro- and
nanotechnologies for its future capabilities and has begun a planning pro-
cess to maximize the benefits of its in-house and extramural research pro-
grams.
Strong leadership will be necessary to ensure maximum benefit from
the Air Force Research Laboratory research programs.
The Air Force has
coupled its programs with other research programs within DoD, especially
those of DARPA and DDR&E.
Recommendation P3.
It will be critical to continue the planning for micro-
and nanotechnologies at the highest levels of the Air Force Research Labo-
ratory (AFRL). AFRL should also strengthen its external review processes to
assist the leadership and to ensure that its work is well coordinated with
national efforts. The Air Force should coordinate its initiatives with other
federal agencies and work to build collaborative programs where appropriate.
Finding P4.
The committee perceived a lack of consistency in the quality of
current in-house Air Force programs and in the benchmarking of those pro-
grams against the large number of programs under way throughout the world.
Recommendation P4.
Considering that micro- and nanotechnology is a
new and rapidly emerging, interdisciplinary field, the Air Force should criti-
cally evaluate its efforts in micro- and nanotechnology to select areas of
strong potential payoff for Air Force missions and to sustain the highest-
quality program.
This will require the following:
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