In 1949, the U.S. Air Force reached out to MIT with an immediate requirement. Soviet aircraft equipped with nuclear warheads could reach the U.S. territory, leaving the country vulnerable. Consequently, a specialized center — MIT Lincoln Laboratory — was formed. The most brilliant individuals from MIT collaborated in service to the country, achieving scientific and engineering advancements to develop the first real-time air defense system prototype. The commercial industry, along with the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), later manufactured and implemented this system, known as SAGE, on a continental scale.
The narrative of SAGE continues to illustrate MIT Lincoln Laboratory’s approach to national security innovation currently. The laboratory collaborates with DoD organizations to pinpoint significant national security challenges, assesses whether technology can aid in a resolution, and then initiates an R&D program to enhance crucial technologies. The main outcomes of these initiatives are advanced technology prototypes, which are frequently rapidly produced and validated through testing and evaluation.
Throughout this procedure, the laboratory maintains close coordination with the DoD and other federal agency donors, subsequently transferring the technology in various formats to industry for large-scale production to fulfill national requirements. For nearly 75 years, these technologies have preserved lives, addressed emergencies, bolstered the national economy, and influenced the daily lives of Americans and our allies.
“Lincoln Laboratory expedites the pace of national security technology advancement, in collaboration with the government, private sector, and the overall national security framework,” states Melissa Choi, director of MIT Lincoln Laboratory. “We combine high-performance teams with advanced facilities and the finest technology available to bring innovative prototypes to fruition, providing lasting advantages to the United States.”
The Air Force and MIT have recently extended their agreement for the ongoing operation of Lincoln Laboratory. The agreement was granted by the Air Force Lifecycle Management Center Strategic Services Division at Hanscom Air Force Base for a duration of five years, with an option for an additional five years. Since Lincoln Laboratory’s inception, MIT has managed the laboratory in the interest of the nation without charging fees and strictly based on cost reimbursement. This contract award reflects the DoD’s ongoing acknowledgment of the enduring value and necessity for state-of-the-art R&D focused on national security.
Vital contributions to national security
MIT Lincoln Laboratory stands as the DoD’s largest federally funded research and development center. Supported by the under secretary of defense for research and engineering, it plays a role in a wide array of national security missions and fields.
Among the most crucial fields are air and missile defense. Researchers at the laboratory innovate advanced radar systems and algorithms essential for detecting, tracking, and targeting ballistic missiles and aircraft, serving as scientific consultants to the Reagan Test Site. They also perform extensive analyses on missile defense requirements, such as the recent National Defense Authorization Act-directed study on the defense of Guam, providing actionable insights to Congress.
Additionally, MIT Lincoln Laboratory is leading in the realm of space systems and technologies, empowering the military to oversee space activities and communicate at extraordinarily high bandwidths. Laboratory engineers created the uniquely-shaped detector within the Space Surveillance Telescope, enabling the U.S. Space Force to track diminutive space objects. The laboratory also operates the world’s highest-resolution long-range radar for satellite imaging. Recently, the laboratory collaborated closely with NASA to showcase laser communication systems in space, achieving records for the swiftest satellite downlink and the farthest laser communication link ever accomplished. These innovations are ushering in a new era for satellite communications in both defense and civilian operations.
Perhaps most critically, MIT Lincoln Laboratory is tasked with swiftly prototyping answers to pressing and emerging threats. These solutions are both transitioned to industry for production and deployed directly to warfighters, preserving lives. In response to improvised explosive devices in Iraq and Afghanistan, the laboratory promptly and iteratively developed several innovative systems to detect and neutralize explosive devices as well as insurgent networks. When insurgents were assaulting forward-operating bases at night, the laboratory devised an advanced infrared camera system to thwart the attacks. Like other multi-purpose technologies created at the laboratory, this system led to a successful commercial startup, which was recently acquired by Anduril.
Addressing domestic crises also constitutes a key element of the laboratory’s mission. Following the attacks of 9/11/2001, the laboratory swiftly integrated a system to protect the airspace surrounding critical areas in the capital region. More recently, the laboratory’s implementation of AI in video forensics and physical screening has led to commercialized systems that are now used in airports and mass transit locations. Over the past decade, the laboratory has tailored its technology for numerous other homeland security requirements, including responses to natural calamities. As a case in point, researchers adapted a world-class lidar system initially employed by the military for terrain mapping to swiftly assess damage post-hurricanes.
For all these endeavors, the laboratory practices responsible management of taxpayer dollars, identifying multiple applications for the technologies it creates and implementing transformative strategies to lower expenses for the government. Sometimes, the system architecture or design leads to cost savings, as demonstrated by the U.S. Air Force’s SensorSat; the laboratory’s innovative sensor design allowed for a satellite that is ten times smaller and less expensive than typical satellites used for space surveillance. Another method involves constructing novel systems from low-cost components. For instance, laboratory researchers found a way to create phased-array radars using cell phone electronics instead of traditionally costly components, significantly lowering the expenses of deploying radars for weather and aircraft monitoring.
The laboratory also seeks out emerging technologies to deliver transformative solutions. In the 1960s, such foresight introduced semiconductor lasers into the world, and in the 1990s reduced transistor size beyond industry expectations. Currently, laboratory personnel are exploring other novel avenues: making imagers reconfigurable at the pixel level, engineering quantum sensors to revolutionize navigation technology, and developing superconducting electronics to enhance computing efficacy.
A long-standing, fruitful partnership between MIT and the DoD
“Lincoln Laboratory has fostered profound understanding and an extensive knowledge base in essential national security missions and the related technologies. We anticipate continuing to collaborate closely with government sponsors, industry, and academia through our trusted, cooperative relationships to tackle present and future national security challenges and uphold technological dominance,” remarks Scott Anderson, assistant director for operations at MIT Lincoln Laboratory.
“MIT has consistently taken pride in supporting the nation through its management of Lincoln Laboratory. The enduring partnership between MIT and the Department of Defense through this esteemed laboratory has significantly impacted the safety, economy, and industrial strength of the United States, and we eagerly anticipate the innovations that lie ahead of us,” adds Ian Waitz, MIT vice president for research.
Under the stipulations of the renewed agreement, MIT will ensure that Lincoln Laboratory is prepared to tackle R&D challenges that are vital to national security.