The U.S. Air Force is joining forces with Howard University for military research research.

According to a press release from the Air Force, Howard University has been chosen for a research center that will focus on tactical autonomy technology for military systems. The HBCU will receive $12 million per year for five years, which equals approximately $90 million, to fund research, faculty and students. This is one of 14 university affiliated research centers and Howard University is the first HBCU to be selected.

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said in a statement, "Autonomous systems make our military faster, smarter and more combat-credible. They equip commanders with the best possible information to support life-and-death decisions. And I have no doubt that the advancements that will come out of Howard's new research center will do even more to protect our most precious asset-our men and women in uniform."

The goals include:

• Establish and maintain essential research and development capabilities for the Department of the Air Force to deliver operationally relevant autonomy.
• Generate robust research and development efforts with historically black colleges and universities that is expected to build institutional research capacity to a research classification of "very-high-research activity" in the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.
• Grow and diversify the available pool of scientists and engineers to support the Defense Department and establish a source of organic technical excellence.
• Seed a unique science, research, and development ecosystem of small and large businesses, academia and the Department of Defense.

The Washington Post reports researchers will start work on Feb. 1 at a temporary site as a permanent home for the project is being renovated.