Explore Our Impact
Innovation and Impact
At APL, we create technologies and innovations to protect our homeland and warfighters, enable teamwork between people and machines, expand the limits of computing power, and improve the ability of people to survive in the most remote parts of the globe.
By combining creativity and technical expertise with a culture of risk-taking — brought together in cutting-edge collaboration spaces, labs, and test facilities across our campuses — we tackle increasingly difficult challenges with impacts across multiple domains.
Advanced Manufacturing
Accelerating national readiness and resilience through mission-driven manufacturing innovation
Air and Missile Defense
We develop advanced capabilities to defend our forces and allies against aircraft and missile threats.
Artificial Intelligence
From autonomous systems in all domains to human-machine teaming for enhanced planning and operations to AI-enabled scientific discovery, APL is applying AI for accelerated operations and discovery that is both assured and trustworthy.
Biology and Bioengineering
We work to measure, understand, and harness biological systems and processes to drive innovation and enable new capabilities to address critical challenges.
Communications Systems
APL develops reliable, resilient, and secure communications technologies and systems for dynamic environments.
Cybersecurity
We develop and implement revolutionary situational awareness capabilities across critical cyber platforms.
Health
APL is transforming health care to enhance the nation’s ability to predict, prevent, and detect illness and injury.
Hypersonics
Our foundational expertise in hypersonic technologies allows us to be a critical difference-maker for national defense.
Independent Research and Development
Our Independent Research and Development program funds ideas that address domains or areas of interest to APL and the nation.
ISR Technology
We develop, prototype, and transition state-of-the-art capabilities to revolutionize intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance systems and technologies.
Next-Generation Materials
Advancing next-generation materials for critical national security applications, such as hypersonic flight, space-based missions, and naval ship construction.
Focus Areas
Our Impact
APL is bringing all of its core competencies to bear on this critical challenge area, assembling top experts from a variety of scientific fields and partners to explore strategic opportunities to protect our operations in a changing world.
Strategic Forecasting
Identifying threats, enabling informed planning, and developing early warning systems
Adaptive Capabilities
Adapting and maintaining a resilient force that meets the coming demand and scope for military operations
Mission Systems
Anticipating and enabling self-sustaining operations in future missions and environments
Meet Our Experts
Andrew Merkle Department Head, Research and Exploratory Development
Learn more about Andrew C. Merkle
Bobby Armiger Managing Executive, Research and Exploratory Development
Learn more about Bobby Armiger
Jeffrey Maranchi Exploration Program Area Manager
Learn more about Jeffrey MaranchiEvent Highlights
2024 Atlantic Coastal Resilience Workshop Event Recap
In May 2024, APL hosted the Atlantic Coastal Resilience Workshop, bringing together close to 100 members of academia, industry, government, and nonprofits to forge a path forward in strategic development of coastal resilience in the Atlantic region.
Third National Workshop on Environmental DNA
Hosted by APL and the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History, the 3rd National Workshop on Environmental DNA served as a mechanism to bring together researchers, practitioners, and policymakers to discuss eDNA technologies, newly released national strategies, and implementation priorities.
Into Vanishing Ice May 21, 2024
The melting Arctic is creating new trade, economic and operational opportunities — but also new challenges that could threaten the U.S. border and the region’s fragile ecosystem. Researchers at Johns Hopkins APL are pooling their expertise and established experience in materials, modeling, AI and sensing to develop the technology and knowledge for a sustainable and lasting foothold in this rapidly changing region.
Johns Hopkins APL Reaches Highest Mark for Intellectual Property Disclosures Jan 6, 2025
APL staff members filed a record 564 intellectual property disclosures in fiscal year 2024, reinforcing the Laboratory’s strategic value to sponsors and the nation and demonstrating an initial return on the Laboratory’s multimillion-dollar investments in transforming novel ideas into real and impactful solutions.
Unveiling the Nation’s Bold Strategy to Advance Environmental DNA: Key Workshop Takeaways Jul 25, 2024
Over 250 scientists, practitioners and policymakers recently gathered on Johns Hopkins APL’s campus for the Third National Workshop on Marine Environmental DNA to launch a new federal aquatic eDNA National Strategy, discuss state-of-the-art eDNA science, and identify implementation opportunities that will realize the full potential of eDNA as a tool to monitor aquatic ecosystems.
Johns Hopkins APL Developing a Suite of Solutions to Address Coastal Challenges Apr 25, 2024
As coastlines become more difficult to secure, APL is combining expertise in materials engineering, marine biology, plant biology, computer science and modeling to fortify coastal resilience.
Using Artificial Intelligence, Better Pollution Predictions Are in the Air Jan 30, 2024
As the global climate warms, wildfires are increasing in severity and frequency, and consequently releasing more smoke-borne contaminants into the air. To better predict how and where those pollutants are traveling, APL researchers are using artificial intelligence to simulate atmospheric models and improve the resolution and speed of air quality forecasts.
Quantum Technologies
Pioneering breakthroughs, unlocking transformative applications, and pushing boundaries in theoretical and experimental quantum science
Space Science and Engineering
Since the dawn of the Space Age, APL has expanded the frontiers of space science and technology.
Strategy and Analysis
APL serves a special role for the United States as a cornerstone research and analysis institution for critical defense technologies.