Autonomous Collaborative Platforms

The Experimental Operations Unit (EOU) effort explores Doctrine, Organization, Training, Materiel, Leadership, Personnel, Facilities, and Policy (DOTMLPF-P) concepts for Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA). Program activities serve as early risk reduction for employment of CCA with crewed aircraft to mature operational concept development and evaluate supporting force structure to execute CCA operations. Funding provides operational concepts and studies, flight test and test support, prototypes, infrastructure investment for information technology, training and demonstration, and program management support to mature autonomous operational concepts. Program management support costs include but are not limited to contractor support services, supplies, and facility related expenses. Funding may be utilized to implement innovation insertion, capability insertion, software increments, spiral upgrades, modular component swaps, and other insertions consistent with Modular Open System Architecture. Funding may be utilized to design, develop, integrate, and test weapon system and/or component level open architectures. Funding may be utilized to fund the concept refinement, design, development, integration, and testing of interdependent technologies and common architectures that underpin weapon system and portfolio-wide mission outcomes. This program element included all necessary expenses required to manage, execute, and deliver weapon system capability. The use of such program funds would be in addition to the civilian pay expenses budgeted in program element 0605829F, 0605831F, 0605833F, or 0605898F.

The Viper Experimentation and Next-gen Operations Model (VENOM) effort serves as a flying autonomy testbed for Autonomous Collaborative Platforms (ACP). Program activities reduce risk to ACP through test and demonstration of the autonomy reference architecture and autonomy software on a F-16, or other human-on-the-loop testbed. Funding provides flight test and test support (including modifications), infrastructure investments for information technology, training, and program management support to mature autonomy architecture and software. Program management support costs include but are not limited to contractor support services, supplies, and facility related expenses. In FY 2027, PE 0207179F, Autonomous Collaborative Platforms, Project 645340, Viper Experimentation and Next-gen Operations Model (VENOM) efforts were transferred to PE 0605807, Test and Evaluation Support, Project 6606TS, Test and Evaluation Support, in order to continue to support flight test hours and on-going F-16 VENOM integration & sustainment. This program element included all necessary expenses required to manage, execute, and deliver weapon system capability. The use of such program funds would be in addition to the civilian pay expenses budgeted in program element 0605829F, 0605831F, 0605833F, or 0605898F.