# Combat Vehicle Improvement Programs — Program Element 0203735A

**Program element:** 0203735A  
**Component:** U.S. Army  
**Appropriation:** 2040 — RDT&E, Army  
**Budget Activity:** 7 — Operational System Development  
**Vintage:** President's Budget PB2027  
**Canonical URL:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/0203735A

## Summary

U.S. Army funding falls 33% to a $492.4M request in FY2027 (down from a FY2026 peak), before stepping down 69% across the five-year plan. In the FY2027 defense authorization, the House added 2.0% (to $502.4M); the Senate funded it in full; House appropriators added 10% (to $542.2M). PMO Support Offices leads the industry work.

## Funding profile

| Fiscal Year | Estimate Type | Amount ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | Actual | 317.2 |
| FY2026 | Enacted | 739.2 |
| FY2027 | Request | 492.4 |
| FY2028 | Outyear | 335.1 |
| FY2029 | Outyear | 163.6 |
| FY2030 | Outyear | 151.1 |
| FY2031 | Outyear | 151.7 |

> Estimate types are not summed — the profile mixes actuals, enacted law, the request, and outyear projections.

## Congressional marks (FY2027)

| Stage | Marked ($M) | Change ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| Request | 492.4 | — |
| House NDAA (HASC) | 502.4 | +10.0 |
| Senate NDAA (SASC) | 492.4 | +0.0 |
| House Approps (HAC-D) | 542.2 | +49.8 |

> FY2027 NDAA authorization marks, as of 2026-07-27. Not appropriations or final law.

## Projects (3)

| Project | Title | FY2025 actual | FY2026 enacted | FY2027 request | Move |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 330 | Abrams Tank Improve Prog | 242.9 | 729.3 | 474.4 | −35% |
| DD4 | AMPV Improvement Program | 11.9 | 9.5 | 10.9 | +14% |
| EE2 | Stryker Improvement | 62.5 | 0.4 | 7.1 | +1667% |

> Projects are the summable leaves: the program element total is their sum, never added to it.

### Project 330 — Abrams Tank Improve Prog

The Army approved an Engineering Change Proposal (ECP) for the Abrams Modernization effort which focuses on reducing the logistical footprint of the current Abrams tank while increasing system protection capability technologies to include, but is not limited to, integrating missile, drone, and other top attack protection. Abrams Modernization will leverage advances in technology utilizing state-of-the art technological approaches to address current performance requirements identified in approved platform requirements documents. The strategy for Abrams focuses on delivering advanced capability to the warfighter to overcome and/or mitigate any near-term limitations and capability gaps and maintaining combat overmatch in the future. This approach builds on the proven ECP strategy from the Army Acquisition Executive in 3rd Quarter Fiscal Year 2011, revalidated in an Army Requirements Oversight Council (AROC) decision in 2018, recently re-approved and endorsed by Army Senior Leaders in 3rd Quarter Fiscal Year 2023, and Army Transformation Initiative (ATI) Executive Order (EXORD) directed acceleration of M1E3. The Army will modernize the tank fleet through development of the Modernization Engineering Change Proposal (ECP) which will include the best features of prior ECPs and will comply with the latest modular open systems architecture (MOSA) standards, allowing quicker technology upgrades. This will enable the Army and its commercial partners to design a more lethal, survivable, lighter, intelligent tank that will be more effective on the battlefield at initial fielding and easier to upgrade in the future. FY 2027 base funding in the amount of $474.442 million represents a significant investment in Abrams Modernization to include the acceleration of the Abrams M1E3 program and Transformation in Contact (TiC). This funding will support, but not limited to, the continued identification, development, maturation, future integration, and demonstration of critical high priority technology candidates in support of the Army's continuous transformation initiative.

**Named R-3 performers** (share of this project's FY2027 R-3 total, so they need not reach 100%)**:** PMO Support Offices (11.4, 2.4%).

| Activity (R-2A) | FY2025 | FY2026 | FY2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Program Management Office (PMO) Support | 9.2 | 9.1 | 11.4 |
| Lethality and Survivability Enhancements | 9.7 | 6.9 | 6.0 |
| Abrams Modernization | 214.9 | 691.3 | 457.1 |

> R-2A activities carry the prior, current and budget year only — no five-year plan. Coverage is partial, so count them, never total them.

### Project DD4 — AMPV Improvement Program

The Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV) is an ACAT IC program designed to replace the Army's Armored Personnel Carrier (M113) Family of Vehicles (FoV) within the Armored Brigade Combat Team (ABCT). The AMPV addresses current and future capability gaps in the Vietnam-era M113 Family of Vehicles by delivering enhanced mobility, lethality, network communication/interoperability, and protection. These advancements are essential for moving personnel and executing key mission roles on the battlefield within the ABCT. Fielding is currently underway and is expected to continue through FY2042. The AMPV Improvement Program focuses on upgrading capabilities for integration and implementation across the AMPV FoV to enhance mission effectiveness. FY 2027 funding of $10.853 million for Project DD4 supports Army-requested changes, as well as the continued development, testing, and integration of the following initiatives: * Composite Rubber Track (CRT): Provides significant advantages over traditional linked steel tracks, including vehicle weight reduction, improved fuel economy, enhanced track and road wheel durability, and reduced soldier maintenance requirements. * Vehicular Situational Awareness: Enhances driver and vehicle commander visibility around the vehicle, creating a safer operating environment. * Counter-Unmanned Aerial System (C-UAS) Solutions: Improves AMPV survivability in contested environments by neutralizing UAS threats. * Predictive Logistics Tools: Utilizes analytics and artificial intelligence to forecast supply chain needs, reducing vehicle downtime in contested environments. * Mission Equipment Packages (MEPs): Enables rapid configuration of the AMPV to meet evolving operational requirements across its five variants. Specifically, the turreted mortar MEP will significantly enhance the legacy mortar solution inherited from the M113 M1064 variants. Additionally, the AMPV Improvement Program supports Army assessments, experimentation, and testing to address emerging requirements that impact the AMPV platform.

| Activity (R-2A) | FY2025 | FY2026 | FY2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Armored Multi Purpose Vehicle (AMPV) Product Development | 11.0 | 8.7 | 10.0 |
| Program Management Office (PMO) Support | 0.8 | 0.9 | 0.8 |

> R-2A activities carry the prior, current and budget year only — no five-year plan. Coverage is partial, so count them, never total them.

### Project EE2 — Stryker Improvement

The Stryker Improvement Program executes a comprehensive modernization strategy to enhance the Stryker's lethality, survivability, and network capabilities across the Stryker Brigade Combat Team (SBCT). Foundational upgrades to the Double V-Hull A1 (DVHA1) Engineering Change Proposal (ECP) restores the vehicle's Space, Weight, and Power-Cooling capacity, enabling the integration of all other modern systems; and Survivability Enhancements integrates emerging technologies to protect the vehicle and crew against evolving battlefield threats. Lethality Enhancements include the Lethality Mission Equipment Package (MEP) initiative which integrates a suite of upgrades including Common Remotely Operated Weapon System-Javelin (CROWS-J) for anti-armor capability and Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems (C-UAS). Network Modernization initiatives include Lethality Mission Equipment Package (MEP) which formally integrates the Integrated Tactical Network (ITN) and on-the-move command systems like the Fire Direction Center (FDC); and Predictive Logistics which Uses platform diagnostic data to predict maintenance needs, increasing readiness and reducing sustainment costs.

**Named R-3 performers** (share of this project's FY2027 R-3 total, so they need not reach 100%)**:** CPE Ground/TACOM (0.9, 12%).

| Activity (R-2A) | FY2025 | FY2026 | FY2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stryker Improvement Development | — | — | 6.2 |
| Government Systems Engineering and Project Management | 1.5 | 0.4 | 0.9 |

> R-2A activities carry the prior, current and budget year only — no five-year plan. Coverage is partial, so count them, never total them.

## Where the FY2027 request goes

| Category | Share | $M |
|---|---|---|
| Industry primes | 2.5% | 12.2 |
| Other / unspecified | 98% | 480.1 |

**Top named industry performers:** PMO Support Offices ($11.4M, 2.3%).

> R-3 exhibit contract funding, not USAspending obligations.

## Mission & acquisition strategy

This PE corrects vehicle deficiencies identified during Army operations; continues technical system upgrades to include the integration of applicable technologies on ground systems; addresses needed evolutionary enhancements to tracked combat vehicles; and develops technology improvements which have application to or insertion opportunities across multiple Ground Combat Systems vehicles. This Program Element provides combat effectiveness and Operating and Support cost reduction enhancements for the Recovery Vehicle Improvement program, Abrams tanks, Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicles, and the Stryker Family of Vehicles through a series of product improvements.

The Stryker Engineering Change Proposal (ECP) 1 effort will buy back the vehicle space, weight, and power margin lost due to the addition of numerous kits in response to eleven years of war (20-combat rotations & 37+ million total miles), in order to allow integration of the future network (as directed by VCSA in August 2011) without further degrading the performance of the platform. In May 2012, Stryker ECP 1 program (Phase I) was approved, permitting preliminary design and integration efforts on both the Flat Bottom (FB) and DVH variants. In March 2013, Phase II was approved continuing design and integration of ECP 1 mechanical power, electrical power generation, chassis upgrades, and the in-vehicle network upgrades.

## Related program elements

- [0604852A — Suite of Survivability Enhancement Systems - EMD](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0604852A) (Army)
- [0604273M — Executive Helo Development](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0604273M) (Navy)
- [0604759N — Major T&E Investment](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0604759N) (Navy)
- [1203873SF — Sensor Development](https://hitchintel.com/programs/1203873SF) (Space Force)

## Source & machine access

- **Source:** FY2027 Department of the Army RDT&E Budget Justification, Exhibits R-2/R-3, PE 0203735A (PB PB2027); FY2027 NDAA committee marks (as of 2026-07-27).
- **MCP:** `mcp.hitchintel.com` — `budget_get_program_element(pe="0203735A")`.

*HitchAI is an independent intelligence service, not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Defense. Budget figures are requests/estimates, not obligations.*