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Research lab · United States

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory

HQ Laurel, Maryland5001-10000 employeesUpdated

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory is a Navy-sponsored University Affiliated Research Center operated by Johns Hopkins University.

Research labAir and missile defenseCommand, control and communications+2
WebsiteLinkedIn
Prime obligations
$24.79B
Since FY2008
Prime awards
5,815
Every award since FY2008
Capabilities
4
Mentions
1
Latest Jan 1, 2002

About

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory is a Navy-sponsored University Affiliated Research Center operated by Johns Hopkins University. APL’s official structure includes Air and Missile Defense, Asymmetric Operations, Force Projection, and Space Exploration sectors. Its main campus is in Laurel, Maryland, and it maintains a Lexington Park Field Office that supports Naval Air Systems Command sponsors. An authoritative standalone FY2025 laboratory-wide budget was not located in the reviewed material.

Institution and Contracts

Institution
UARC
Sponsor
U.S. Navy
Operator
The Johns Hopkins University (APL is its research division)

News1

Open in the news feed →

Capabilities4

Maturity and TRL describe this organization's work; the field-wide maturity is on each technology's page.

Federal Prime Contracts$24.79B obligated · FY2008–FY2027

Explore in Awards →
Obligated
$24.79B
FY2008–FY2027
Contract actions
33,245
5,815 awards
Peak year
FY2025
$2.36B
Top buyer
U.S. Department of the Navy
47% of obligations
Obligations by fiscal yearLast 5 full years avg $1.89BFaded: FY2026 so far; DoW publishes actions about 90 days late.
FY2008: $662M · 1,137 actionsFY2009: $823M · 1,181 actionsFY2010: $951M · 1,171 actionsFY2011: $964M · 1,323 actionsFY2012: $892M · 1,334 actionsFY2013: $864M · 1,330 actionsFY2014: $973M · 1,518 actionsFY2015: $975M · 1,656 actionsFY2016: $1.14B · 1,743 actionsFY2017: $1.05B · 1,964 actionsFY2018: $1.19B · 1,951 actionsFY2019: $1.26B · 1,840 actionsFY2020: $1.49B · 1,973 actionsFY2021: $1.51B · 2,151 actionsFY2022: $1.60B · 2,357 actionsFY2023: $1.99B · 2,154 actionsFY2024: $2.01B · 2,275 actionsFY2025: $2.36B · 2,442 actionsFY2026 (to date): $2.09B · 1,744 actions
’08’12’16’20’24’26
Show as table
Obligations by fiscal year
Fiscal yearObligatedActionsAwards
FY2026 (to date)$2.09B1,744853
FY2025$2.36B2,4421,072
FY2024$2.01B2,2751,076
FY2023$1.99B2,1541,055
FY2022$1.60B2,3571,109
FY2021$1.51B2,151967
FY2020$1.49B1,973899
FY2019$1.26B1,840881
FY2018$1.19B1,951881
FY2017$1.05B1,964861
FY2016$1.14B1,743763
FY2015$975M1,656755
FY2014$973M1,518783
FY2013$864M1,330640
FY2012$892M1,334564
FY2011$964M1,323520
FY2010$951M1,171541
FY2009$823M1,181506
FY2008$662M1,137441

Top buyers

  1. U.S. Department of the Navy$11.62B 47%
  2. NASA$4.73B 19%
  3. Missile Defense Agency$2.56B 10%
  4. U.S. Department of the Air Force$1.61B 6.5%
  5. Washington Headquarters Services$1.42B 5.7%
  6. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency$1.21B 4.9%
  7. U.S. Department of the Army$365M 1.5%
  8. U.S. Special Operations Command$326M 1.3%
  9. U.S. Customs and Border Protection$253M 1.0%
  10. U.S. Cyber Command$126M 0.5%
  11. Office of Procurement Operations (Homeland Security)$119M 0.5%
  12. Immediate Office of the Secretary of Defense$106M 0.4%
  13. All other$343M 1.4%

Defense programs

  1. MDA SUPPORT$2.51B 10%
  2. SPACE C2$53.5M 0.2%
  3. IAMD$44.7M 0.2%
  4. 2000$5.9M 0.0%
  5. GEOMAP$4.3M 0.0%
  6. MC2S MOD - BLOCK 05$3.6M 0.0%
  7. MQ-9 Reaper$1.1M 0.0%

Only actions coded to a DoW acquisition program.

What they sell (PSC)

  1. R&D- Other Research and Development (Engineering Development)$3.92B 16%
  2. National Defense R&D Services; Defense-Related Activities; Applied Research$3.71B 15%
  3. R&D- Defense Other: Services (Engineering Development)$2.59B 10%
  4. R&D- Space: Science/Applications (Basic Research)$2.57B 10%
  5. Space R&D Services; Space Flight, Research and Supporting Activities; Basic Research$2.22B 9.0%
  6. National Defense R&D Services; Atomic Energy Defense Activities; Experimental Development$1.51B 6.1%
  7. Special Studies/Analysis- Defense$1.27B 5.1%
  8. National Defense R&D Services; Atomic Energy Defense Activities; Applied Research$1.20B 4.9%
  9. National Defense R&D Services; Department of Defense - Military; Basic Research$765M 3.1%
  10. Support- Professional: Engineering/Technical$648M 2.6%
  11. R&D- Defense Other: Other (Advanced Development)$458M 1.8%
  12. R&D- Defense Other: Other (Applied Research/Exploratory Development)$383M 1.5%
  13. Support- Professional: Other$369M 1.5%
  14. National Defense R&D Services; Department of Defense - Military; Experimental Development$298M 1.2%
  15. R&D- Defense Other: Services (Applied Research/Exploratory Development)$245M 1.0%
  16. All other$2.64B 11%

Industry (NAICS)

  1. Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (Except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology)$8.49B 34%
  2. Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (Except Biotechnology)$7.72B 31%
  3. Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences$5.61B 23%
  4. All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services$1.51B 6.1%
  5. Engineering Services$571M 2.3%
  6. Architectural Services$245M 1.0%
  7. Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services$238M 1.0%
  8. Other Computer Related Services$126M 0.5%
  9. Research and Development in Biotechnology (Except Nanobiotechnology)$80.9M 0.3%
  10. Computer Systems Design Services$68.2M 0.3%
  11. All other$129M 0.5%

Where the work is done

  1. Maryland$24.06B 97%
  2. Virginia$329M 1.3%
  3. District of Columbia$210M 0.8%
  4. Alabama$38.0M 0.2%
  5. Pennsylvania$35.6M 0.1%
  6. Florida$30.3M 0.1%
  7. Nebraska$27.3M 0.1%
  8. Georgia$15.0M 0.1%
  9. California$13.6M 0.1%
  10. Texas$10.9M 0.0%
  11. Colorado$4.3M 0.0%
  12. Utah$4.3M 0.0%
  13. New Mexico$3.3M 0.0%
  14. Outside the US$2.9M 0.0%
  15. Kentucky$1.2M 0.0%
  16. All other$1.6M 0.0%

Contract pricing

  1. Cost Plus Fixed Fee$24.63B 99%
  2. Cost No Fee$52.1M 0.2%
  3. Cost Plus Award Fee$47.7M 0.2%
  4. Firm Fixed Price$36.5M 0.1%
  5. Combination (Applies to Awards Where Two or More of the Above Apply)$12.8M 0.1%
  6. Cost Plus Incentive Fee$6.4M 0.0%
  7. Other (Applies to Awards Where None of the Above Apply)$3.1M 0.0%
  8. Labor Hours$2.6M 0.0%
  9. All other$173K 0.0%

Competition

  1. Not Competed$23.96B 97%
  2. Full and Open Competition$498M 2.0%
  3. Not Available for Competition$221M 0.9%
  4. Full and Open Competition After Exclusion of Sources$95.6M 0.4%
  5. Not Competed Under SAP$12.8M 0.1%
  6. Competed Under SAP$484K 0.0%

Largest awards10

  • Dragonfly Extended Phase B Mission Under 80MSFC20D0004 Aerospace Research, Development and Engineering Support (Ardes) II. · NASA · USAspending ↗
    $1.34B
  • Solar Probe Plus (Spp) Phase A Activities the Contractor Shall Perform the Work That Is Designated in Task Orders Issued by the Contracting Officer. the Overall Scope of Work to Be Performed Will Support All of Nasa's Mission Directorates. These Efforts Can Be Characterized As Aerospace Research, Development, and Engineering Support (Ardes). the General Nature of the Tasks to Be Developed Will Be to Conduct Supporting Research and Advanced Technology Development Designed to Make Contributions to Space Science and Space Exploration and Assist NASA in the Formulation and Execution of Its Programs by Providing NASA with Technical Advice, Studies, and Reports of Investigations. Efforts Undertaken by the Contractor, in the Performance of the Assigned Tasks, Which Include Technology Transfer, Partnering and Commercialization Activities, Shall Seek to Enhance the Value and Contribution of Technology to the Nation S Technological Competitiveness, Prosperity, Quality of Life, and Other National Priorities. Individual Task Orders Will Fall Within One of Two Broad Categories: 1) Essential Research Capability of Space Systems Engineering, and Related Work in the Supporting Essential Research Capabilities of Systems Test and Evaluation, Information Technology, and Simulation, Modeling and Operations Analysis. Task Orders Within the Category of Essential Research Capabilities Are Intended to Preserve the Nation S Capabilities to Perform Robotic Space Missions Over the Full Mission Life Cycle From Concept Formulation Through Mission Operations and Data Analysis. NASA Is Contracting for Support in Several Key Research, Engineering and Development Competencies That Are Fundamental to the Performance of These Missions. 2) Other Aerospace Research, Development, and Engineering Support. Task Orders Within the Category of Other Aerospace Research, Development and Engineering Support Are Intended to Include A Broad Base of Scientific and Technical Capabilities Relevant to NASA Program Responsibilities and Assignments. Regardless of Category, Task Orders May Be Issued Related to Autonomous Deep-space and Earth-orbiting Spacecraft or Major Subsystems, Experiments, Instruments or Other Devices That May Be Carried As Payloads on the Space Shuttle or on Other Spacecraft. Task Assignments Will Explicitly Describe A Broad Range of Hardware, Software, Systems Engineering, Scientific Analysis, and Management Efforts Including Program and Project Management and Administration. · NASA · USAspending ↗
    $895M
  • Sun Earth Connection Living with A Star Program Letter Contract · NASA · USAspending ↗
    $453M
  • Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe (Imap) Phase Cd · NASA · USAspending ↗
    $400M
  • Power Projection 2: Provide Assessments and Alternatives of Offensive Capabilities Within Above Domains, Missions and Warfare Areas · Washington Headquarters Services · USAspending ↗
    $398M
  • Aerospace Research, Design, and Development Tasks for NASA · NASA · USAspending ↗
    $356M
  • Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory Will Support the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering with This Power Projection 3 Task Order to Establish and Maintain Essential Research and Engineering Expertise. · Washington Headquarters Services · USAspending ↗
    $347M
  • DARPA Research Program Support Services · Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency · USAspending ↗
    $231M
  • IGF::CL::IGF Asteriod Impact and Deflection Assessment (Aida) - Double Asteriod Redirection Test (Dart) Phase A Study the Contractor Shall Perform the Work That Is Designated in Task Orders Issued by the Contracting Officer. the Overall Scope of Work to Be Performed Will Support All of Nasa's Mission Directorates. These Efforts Can Be Characterized As Aerospace Research, Development, and Engineering Support (Ardes). the General Nature of the Tasks to Be Developed Will Be to Conduct Supporting Research and Advanced Technology Development Designed to Make Contributions to Space Science and Space Exploration and Assist NASA in the Formulation and Execution of Its Programs by Providing NASA with Technical Advice, Studies, and Reports of Investigations. Efforts Undertaken by the Contractor, in the Performance of the Assigned Tasks, Which Include Technology Transfer, Partnering and Commercialization Activities, Shall Seek to Enhance the Value and Contribution of Technology to the Nation Is Technological Competitiveness, Prosperity, Quality of Life, and Other National Priorities. Individual Task Orders Will Fall Within One of Two Broad Categories: 1) Essential Research Capability of Space Systems Engineering, and Related Work in the Supporting Essential Research Capabilities of Systems Test and Evaluation, Information Technology, and Simulation, Modeling and Operations Analysis. Task Orders Within the Category of Essential Research Capabilities Are Intended to Preserve the Nation Is Capabilities to Perform Robotic Space Missions Over the Full Mission Life Cycle From Concept Formulation Through Mission Operations and Data Analysis. NASA Is Contracting for Support in Several Key Research, Engineering and Development Competencies That Are Fundamental to the Performance of These Missions. 2) Other Aerospace Research, Development, and Engineering Support. Task Orders Within the Category of Other Aerospace Research, Development and Engineering Support Are Intended to Include A Broad Base of Scientific and Technical Capabilities Relevant to NASA Program Responsibilities and Assignments. Regardless of Category, Task Orders May Be Issued Related to Autonomous Deep-space and Earth-orbiting Spacecraft or Major Subsystems, Experiments, Instruments or Other Devices That May Be Carried As Payloads on the Space Shuttle or on Other Spacecraft. Task Assignments Will Explicitly Describe A Broad Range of Hardware, Software, Systems Engineering, Scientific Analysis, and Management Efforts Including Program and Project Management and Administration. · NASA · USAspending ↗
    $222M
  • Provide Analysis to Include Design, Develop, Integrate, and Test An Aegis Bmd Mission Planner Model Prototype Which Includes the Cerberus Project in Accordance with the Sow, Section J, and Executing the Combat Systems Task Order Tasks. PSC AC23 Expenditure Type 255.0 R&D · Missile Defense Agency · MDA SUPPORT · USAspending ↗
    $167M

Awards marked “Outside DoW, DHS, DOE and NASA” come from the contractor-first USAspending search of this company's awards at every agency and are not in sector totals. Awards of DoW, DHS, DOE and NASA under $10,000 net are counted in totals but not listed; find them on USAspending ↗.

Signed obligations on federal prime contracts (award types A–D) from USAspending, FY2008 through Oct 9, 2026. Obligations are money the government committed, not company revenue, and include de-obligations. Subcontracts and grants are excluded. Matching is by registered UEI.

View all 5,815 awards →

Federal Obligations by Year (All USAspending, as Reported at the Time)

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory federal obligations by fiscal year
Fiscal yearDirect: assistanceDirect: contractsTotal
FY2027 (partial)—$0$0
FY2026 (partial)$0$2.03B$2.03B
FY2025$0$2.36B$2.36B
FY2024$0$1.98B$1.98B
FY2023$221K$1.95B$1.95B
FY2022$100K$1.59B$1.59B
FY2021—$1.48B$1.48B
FY2020—$1.47B$1.47B
FY2019−$16K$1.25B$1.25B
FY2018$131K$1.18B$1.18B
FY2017$600K$1.04B$1.04B
FY2016$1.9M$1.13B$1.13B
FY2015$1.6M$970M$971M
FY2014$1.1M$968M$969M
FY2013−$289K$864M$864M
FY2012$3.3M$890M$893M
FY2011$1.8M$963M$964M
FY2010$0$947M$947M
FY2009$8.7M$819M$828M
FY2008$53K$652M$652M

Direct is the company's own reviewed UEIs. Reported by USAspending is subsidiaries as reported by USAspending: recipients that name this company as their parent, not yet reviewed ownership.

Directly matched recipients (up to 12)

UEIs matched to this organization, largest obligations first. Subsidiary recipients are not included in this list; their attributed obligations can appear in the company totals above.

  • THE JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY APPLIED PHYSICS LABORATORY LLC · C1HBCJ9RMBV3 · $24.55B

Each action is credited by the ownership basis shown in its column. Reported-parent rows count for Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory only for the period a subsidiary reported Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory as its parent; reviewed links follow their reviewed dates. Net of de-obligations; these are obligations, not ceilings. They come from the whole USAspending baseline (every recipient size, contracts and assistance) and are a separate view from the curated contract totals on this page. FY2026 and later are partial, as on Markets.

Supply Chain3 facilities

Facilities3

1 more without coordinates, listed below
  • Laurel headquarters
    Headquarters · Laurel, Maryland
    Operating
    Confirmed
  • Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory main campus
    Lab · Laurel
    Operating
    The university-affiliated research center’s primary site for its mission and research work. Source ↗
    Confirmed
  • Lexington Park Field Office
    Office · Lexington Park, Maryland
    Operating
    APL field office supporting naval aviation and listed capabilities in guidance, navigation, and command-and-control communications. Source ↗
    Confirmed

Hiring Observations10 observed listings

View all 50 listings →
Official careers and open roles ↗

A dated sample of listings observed on company career sites and LinkedIn (via Bright Data), not a vacancy count. Availability may have changed since collection; each listing links to its source, and listings not observed in the last 90 days move to previously observed. Categories are inferred from job titles.

Company Metrics

LinkedIn employee profiles
7,921
Observed Oct 24, 2026
Bright Data / LinkedIn
LinkedIn followers
98,375
Observed Oct 24, 2026
Bright Data / LinkedIn
Observation history
  • Oct 24, 2026 · LinkedIn employee profiles: 7,921
  • Oct 24, 2026 · LinkedIn followers: 98,375
  • Oct 23, 2026 · LinkedIn employee profiles: 7,921
  • Oct 23, 2026 · LinkedIn followers: 98,346

Employee-profile counts reflect LinkedIn profiles associated with the company, not verified headcount. One observation establishes a baseline; it does not establish growth.

More in Positioning, Navigation, Timing and Spectrum Resilience

All organizations in Positioning, navigation, timing and spectrum resilience →

Sources61

Show all 61 sources and supporting evidence

Profile6

  1. 1
    Government recordRoger Scramjet

    Office of Naval Research · Jan 1, 2002 · Supports Organization · news event

    “The engine is being developed by The John's Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory under ONR's Hypersonic Weapon Technology Program.”
  2. 2
    CompanyAPL careers — main campus contact

    Supports Organization · hq city

    “11100 Johns Hopkins Road, Laurel, Maryland 20723-6099”
  3. 3
    Government recordFFRDC/UARC | Office of the Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering

    U.S. Department of War · Supports Organization · designation and sponsor

    “Applied Physics Laboratory”
  4. 4
    CompanyOur Organization | Johns Hopkins APL

    Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory · Supports Organization · organization mission and description

    “Air and Missile Defense”
  5. 5
    DatabaseJohns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory company profile

    Octen Business Search · Supports Organization · employee range, Organization · hq region, Organization · linkedin url, Organization · ownership

    “Company size: 5,001-10,000 employees (LinkedIn company profile via Bright Data, snapshot sd_mvkr966h237lj8g1mm, collected 2026-10-23)”
  6. 6
    Government recordUSAspending award H9240226FE029 (THE JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY APPLIED PHYSICS LABORATORY LLC)

    USAspending.gov · Supports Organization · name

    “Recipient: THE JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY APPLIED PHYSICS LABORATORY LLC; UEI: C1HBCJ9RMBV3”

Technologies3

  1. 7
    CompanyJohns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory

    Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory · Supports Facility · street address, Organization · organization description, Organization technology · research capability

    “11100 Johns Hopkins Road, Laurel, Maryland 20723”
  2. 8
    CompanyLocations and Directions | Johns Hopkins APL

    Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory · Supports Facility · documented capability, location, or facility, Facility · documented geography or facility relationship, Facility · facility location, Organization · organization mission and description, Organization technology · documented capability, location, or facility

    “46579 Expedition Drive”
  3. 9
    CompanyTheater Defense Mission Area | Johns Hopkins APL

    Johns Hopkins APL · Supports Organization technology

Supply chain2

  1. 10
    Government recordhttps://geocoding.geo.census.gov/geocoder/locations/onelineaddress?address=11100+Johns+Hopkins+Road%2C+Laurel%2C+MD&benchmark=Public_AR_Current&format=json

    Supports Facility · coordinates

    “Census address-range match: 11100 JOHNS HOPKINS RD, LAUREL, MD, 20723; longitude -76.899809764428; latitude 39.16096919805.”

Government identifiers1

UEI
C1HBCJ9RMBV3
THE JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY APPLIED PHYSICS LABORATORY LLC
Checked Oct 25, 2026

Identifiers are matched to this legal entity; related companies may hold different registrations.

Each fact on this page is attached to the sources that support it. Archived copies are linked when we keep one.