# Defense Research Sciences — Program Element 0601102A

**Program element:** 0601102A  
**Component:** U.S. Army  
**Appropriation:** 2040 — RDT&E, Army  
**Budget Activity:** 1 — Basic Research  
**Vintage:** President's Budget PB2027  
**Canonical URL:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/0601102A

## Summary

U.S. Army funding falls 17% to a $215.3M request in FY2027, sustained across the five-year plan. In the FY2027 defense authorization, the House added 4.6% (to $225.3M); the Senate added 39% (to $300.3M); House appropriators added 12% (to $241.3M).

## Funding profile

| Fiscal Year | Estimate Type | Amount ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | Actual | 290.5 |
| FY2026 | Enacted | 258.2 |
| FY2027 | Request | 215.3 |
| FY2028 | Outyear | 215.4 |
| FY2029 | Outyear | 226.6 |
| FY2030 | Outyear | 229.5 |
| FY2031 | Outyear | 227.9 |

> 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 | 215.3 | — |
| House NDAA (HASC) | 225.3 | +10.0 |
| Senate NDAA (SASC) | 300.3 | +85.0 |
| House Approps (HAC-D) | 241.3 | +26.0 |

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

## Projects (13)

| Project | Title | FY2025 actual | FY2026 enacted | FY2027 request | Move |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AA3 | Single Investigator Basic Research | 104.7 | 106.4 | 64.5 | −39% |
| AA7 | Mechanics and Ballistics | 34.3 | 34.0 | 37.0 | +9% |
| AA9 | Information and Networking | 43.4 | 30.9 | 32.0 | +4% |
| AA6 | Robotics and Mobile Energy | 13.8 | 10.8 | 31.0 | +188% |
| AB2 | Protection, Maneuver, Geospatial, Natural Sciences | 19.5 | 15.7 | 14.3 | −9% |
| AA4 | Training and Human Science Research | 19.6 | 13.6 | 10.7 | −22% |
| AA5 | Biotechnology and Systems Biology | 8.8 | 8.9 | 9.8 | +11% |
| AA1 | ILIR - AMC | 10.7 | 8.3 | 8.3 | −1% |
| CH9 | Advancing Concepts and Technology Forecasting | 3.9 | 3.8 | 3.8 | +1% |
| AB1 | Basic Res in infect Dis, Oper Med and Combat Care | 4.6 | 3.0 | 2.7 | −10% |
| AA8 | Sensing and Electromagnetics | 26.2 | 1.3 | 1.4 | +1% |
| T14 | BASIC RESEARCH INITIATIVES - AMC (CA) | — | 20.5 | — | −100% |
| AA2 | ILIR - SMDC | 1.1 | 1.1 | — | −100% |

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

### Project AA3 — Single Investigator Basic Research

This project fosters extramural basic research to create and exploit new scientific discoveries and technology breakthroughs, primarily from universities, that will improve the Army's transformational capabilities. The Army maintains a strong peer-reviewed scientific research program through which leap-ahead technological solutions may be discovered, matured, and transitioned to overcome the technological barriers associated with next generation capabilities. Included are research efforts for increasing knowledge and understanding in fields related to long-term future force needs in the competency areas of Biological and Biotechnology Sciences; Electromagnetic Spectrum Sciences; Energy Sciences; Humans in Complex Systems; Mechanical Sciences; Military Information Systems; Network, Cyber, and Computational Sciences; Photonics, Electronics, and Quantum Sciences; Sciences of Extreme Materials; Terminal Effects; and Weapons Sciences. The breadth of this basic research program covers approximately 800 active, ongoing research grants and contracts with leading academic researchers and approximately 2,500 graduate students and 1,100 post-doctoral fellows yearly, supporting research at nearly 210 institutions in 50 states. Work in this project is performed by the Army Research Laboratory (ARL).

| Activity (R-2A) | FY2025 | FY2026 | FY2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic Research in Life Sciences | 10.7 | 9.8 | — |
| Basic Research in Chemical Sciences | 9.7 | 10.7 | — |
| Basic Research in Physics | 12.2 | 13.2 | — |
| Basic Research in Electronics and Photonics | 9.3 | 9.9 | — |
| Basic Research in Materials Sciences | 13.8 | 14.1 | — |
| Basic Research in Mechanical Sciences | 11.0 | 12.1 | — |
| Basic Research in Computing Sciences | 7.4 | 7.4 | — |
| Basic Research In Network Sciences | 13.1 | 13.1 | — |
| Basic Research in Mathematical Sciences | 8.2 | 8.2 | — |
| HBCU/MI Single Investigator | 3.2 | 3.0 | — |
| Energy Sciences | 2.6 | 1.8 | — |
| HBCU/MI Early Career Award for Science and Engineering | 1.5 | 1.3 | — |
| Minerva Research Initiative (MRI) | 2.0 | 1.8 | — |
| Physical Sciences | — | — | 21.0 |
| Computational and Information Sciences | — | — | 16.9 |
| Mechanical Sciences | — | — | 13.7 |
| Life Sciences | — | — | 7.8 |
| HBCU/MI Outreach | — | — | 5.0 |

> 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 AA7 — Mechanics and Ballistics

This project conducts basic research in materials and ballistic science to create higher performing, lighter weight, lower cost materials and processes, discover new ways to store and release chemical energy from novel energetic materials, explore fundamental chemistry and physics controlling the launch and flight of gun- launched projectiles and missiles, and understand the interaction of these weapons with armored targets, including the high deformation rate behavior of materials and the mechanics of threat impact and penetration of armored targets. Research involves the study of new experimental capabilities to measure, characterize, and visualize complex phenomena with high temporal and spatial resolutions as well as the development of state-of-the-art computational models that provide predictive capabilities based on at-scale and cross-scale numerical frameworks that capture the relevant physical phenomena. Research in atmospheric science seeks an in-depth understanding of the complex atmospheric boundary layer associated with high-resolution meteorology, the transport, dispersion, optical properties, and characterization of chemical and biological aerosols, the propagation of full-spectrum electro-magnetic and acoustic energy and physics-based multi-scale models for electronic, optical, mechanical, and chemical materials. Efforts seek to explore methodologies and computational capabilities for the quantification of uncertainty in predictive modeling enabling risk-informed decision analysis multi-scale material models and environmental impacts on complex Army systems (manned and unmanned). This research also conducts research in chemistry and physics controlling ballistic propulsion and launch; creating aerodynamic forces on flight bodies to permit radical maneuver at high speeds, and high altitude glide and flight maneuver for increased range of gun launched projectiles. This research results in knowledge products that lead to new materials for armor and armaments, disruptive explosives and propellants, more accurate and non-lethal (NL)/lethal projectiles and missiles, omnisonic maneuver of projectiles, and advanced armors for increased survivability of Army combat systems.

| Activity (R-2A) | FY2025 | FY2026 | FY2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protection Sciences | 5.6 | 5.0 | 5.5 |
| Microscopic/Nanostructural Materials | 3.5 | 3.6 | — |
| High Deformation Rate Materials | 1.7 | 1.7 | — |
| Materiel Research and Processing Using High Energy Fields | 2.7 | 2.7 | — |
| One Dimensional (1D) and Two Dimensional (2D) Materials and Processing Research | 1.8 | 1.8 | — |
| Bio-enabled Precision Materials Synthesis and Assembly | 2.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 |
| Launch and Flight of Gun Launched Projectiles as well as Missiles | 3.1 | 3.1 | 3.1 |
| Energetic Materials Research | 3.8 | 3.9 | 3.9 |
| Theory in Atmospheric Characterization, Sensing, and Modeling | 3.9 | 4.0 | 4.9 |
| Environmental Quality | 1.2 | 1.2 | 1.2 |
| Terminal Ballistic Design and Evaluation for Next Generation Materials | 0.8 | 0.8 | — |
| Additive Manufacturing Sciences | 1.5 | 1.5 | — |
| Chemical-Biological Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Science (CBAMMS) | 2.7 | 2.6 | 2.4 |
| Foundational Materials and Advanced Manufacturing Sciences | — | — | 14.1 |

> 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 AA9 — Information and Networking

This project supports basic research to enable intelligent and survivable command, control, communication, computing, and intelligence (C4I) systems for the future force. As the combat force structure decreases and operates in more dispersed formations, information systems must be more robust, intelligent, interoperable, and survivable if the Army is to retain both information and maneuver dominance. This research addresses the areas of information assurance, signal processing for wireless battlefield communications, information extraction from multi-modal data human-agent naturalistic communication, and intelligent systems for C4I. Research will focus on understanding and solving inherent vulnerabilities associated with using standardized protocols and commercial technologies while addressing survivability in a unique hostile military environment that includes highly mobile nodes and infrastructure, bandwidth-constrained communications at the edge, resource-constrained sensor networks, diverse networks with dynamic topologies, high-level multi-path interference and fading, jamming and multi-access interference, levels of noise in speech signals and document images, and information warfare threats. These C4I technologies must accommodate heterogeneous security infrastructures, multi-service and multi-national interoperability, and information exchange/security mechanisms between multiple levels of security. The intelligent systems for C4I research focus on providing machine learning methods to overcome noisy, sparse, and heterogeneous data with artificial intelligence algorithms that can transfer learning from one domain to another. This foundational research will help identify highly relevant tactical events for mounted or dismounted commanders, leaders and Soldiers; improve the timeliness, quality, and effectiveness of actions; and speed the decision-making process of small teams operating in complex natural or urban terrain. Work in this project supports key Army needs and provides the theoretical underpinnings for Program Element (PE) 0602146A (Network C3I Technology), PE 0602143A (Soldier Lethality Technology), and PE 0602145A (Next Generation Combat Vehicle Technology). Work in this project is performed by the Army Research Laboratory (ARL).

| Activity (R-2A) | FY2025 | FY2026 | FY2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Communications in Complex Dynamic Networks | 5.6 | 4.9 | — |
| Data to Knowledge to Support Decision Making (Information Mediation) | 3.0 | — | — |
| Information Protection in Mobile Dynamic Networks | 5.5 | 4.7 | — |
| Advanced Computing Architectures and Algorithms | 4.2 | 3.6 | — |
| Assured Operations in the Physical, Social and Cyber Domain | 4.2 | 1.1 | 4.7 |
| Machine Learning for Intelligent Agent and Human Decision Making | 6.0 | 2.6 | — |
| Image Analytics and Understanding | 1.3 | 1.0 | 1.1 |
| Fundamentals for Energy Efficient Electronic & Photonic Components | 2.1 | — | — |
| Quantum Information Sciences | 6.0 | 5.2 | 5.6 |
| Assessing and Mitigating Climate Risk for Decision Making | 0.9 | 0.8 | — |
| Battlefield Representation and Intelligent Agents for Scalable Cross-echelon Command and Control | 3.4 | — | — |
| Human-Agent Interactions and Trust for Scalable Cross-echelon Command and Control | 1.2 | 1.3 | — |
| Explainable Uncertainty Quantification for Resilient Autonomous Agents | — | 1.4 | — |
| Learning and Reasoning for Domain Specific Windows of Opportunity for Resilient Autonomous Agents | — | 4.4 | 3.9 |
| Communications in Distributed Dynamic Networks | — | — | 9.9 |
| Advanced Computing for Modeling and Learning | — | — | 6.7 |

> 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 AA6 — Robotics and Mobile Energy

This project fosters basic research to expand the Army's capabilities in the area of propulsion, platform mechanics, and autonomous air and ground platforms. This includes research to enable the investigation of risk-based design methodologies and control algorithms for enduring operation of rotorcraft and ground vehicles, artificial intelligence, and novel mobility mechanics to enable robotic systems to serve as productive embodied teaming agents. This effort researches propulsion and alternative energy systems to increase the reliability, efficiency, and survivability of air and/or ground platforms. This project also conducts research in support of advanced military vehicle technology with emphasis on sophisticated vehicle dynamics and simulation, vehicle-terrain interaction, vehicle control, and advanced track and suspension concepts. Advanced propulsion research will dramatically improve power density, performance, and thermal efficiency for advanced engines, transient heat transfer, high temperature materials, and thermodynamics. This project also supports state-of-the-art simulation technologies to achieve a more fundamental understanding of advanced mobility concepts. The subject research is directed at unique, state-of-the-art phenomena in specific areas such as: non-linear ground vehicle control algorithms, using off-road terrain characteristics; and unique mobility approaches, using advanced analytical and experimental procedures. The work in this project supports Program Element (PE) 0602148A (Future Vertical Lift Technology), PE 0602145A (Next Generation Combat Vehicle Technology), and PE 0601104A (University and Industry Rsch Ctrs). Work in this project is performed by the Army Research Laboratory (ARL), Aviation and Missile Center (AvMC), and Ground Vehicle Systems Center (GVSC).

| Activity (R-2A) | FY2025 | FY2026 | FY2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Robotics Autonomy and Human Robotic Interface Research | 1.9 | 1.9 | — |
| Intelligent Systems | 6.8 | 2.8 | — |
| Structurally-Adaptive Unmanned Air Systems Research | 3.3 | 2.2 | — |
| Air Mobility | 1.8 | 1.6 | 1.6 |
| Resilient Multi-Agent Autonomy for Resilient Autonomous Agents | — | 2.3 | — |
| Batteries for Operational Conditions | — | — | 3.9 |
| Intelligent Robotics and Autonomy | — | — | 4.9 |
| Enhanced Resilience Through Adaptive Multi-Agent Systems | — | — | 4.7 |
| Fundamental Science for Advanced Next Generation Batteries | — | — | 15.9 |

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

### Project AB2 — Protection, Maneuver, Geospatial, Natural Sciences

This project advances fundamental science in areas of military engineering, biosciences, geospatial, and data sciences. The project expands basic understanding of complex biological, chemical, geospatial, and material properties and processes at varying scales and time to support applied research and advanced technology development in the future. Work is performed by the United States (U.S.) Army Engineer Research and Development Center.

| Activity (R-2A) | FY2025 | FY2026 | FY2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mapping, Remote Sensing, Signature Physics and Terrain State | 4.3 | 3.4 | 3.0 |
| Fundamental Adaptive Protection and Projection Research | 5.1 | 4.2 | 3.7 |
| Fundamental Infrastructure Sciences | 1.8 | 1.5 | 1.3 |
| Biological, Chemical and Physical Sciences | 8.1 | 6.5 | 5.7 |
| Foundational Computational Sciences | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.6 |

> 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 AA4 — Training and Human Science Research

This project focuses on research that improves Soldier-system performance in future force environments by looking at key phenomena underlying Soldier integration with intelligent technologies and autonomous agents. This project researches optimal methods for information exchange between Soldiers and intelligent technologies including 1) human performance in automated, mixed-initiative (human control-machine control) environments; 2) visual scanning and target detection; 3) performance-related Soldier state changes; 4) integration across multiple sensory modalities; and 5) collaborative (team) and independent multi-task, multi-modal, multi-echelon Soldier-system performance - all cast against the influx of emerging intelligent technologies and autonomous systems. Technical solutions are being pursued in the areas of data generation and algorithm development in these emerging environments in order to update and improve our understanding of performance boundaries and requirements. These solutions include multi-disciplinary partnerships, metrics, simulation capabilities, and modeling tools for characterizing Soldier-system performance, and provide a shared conceptual and operational framework for militarily relevant research on critical aspects of human-agent teaming. In the area of translational neuroscience, research is carried out to examine leading edge methodologies and technologies to improve the measurement and classification of neural states and behavior in operationally-relevant environments; to examine the potential for application of neuroscience theories to autonomous systems to improve Soldier-system interactions; to model the relationship between brain structure and cognitive performance for understanding individual differences and injury; and to assess how neural pathways implicated in functional processing can be enhanced through dynamic system interface technologies for improving in-theatre performance and training. In the area of cybernetics, which is a scientific discipline that bridges the fields of control theory and communication theory for the study and modeling of behavior in complex systems, research is carried out to examine the complex human-system-environment relationships that define, constrain, and influence the interactions between Soldier and system.

| Activity (R-2A) | FY2025 | FY2026 | FY2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Translational Neuroscience | 4.2 | 4.1 | — |
| Human System Integration | 4.1 | — | — |
| Continuous Multi-Faceted Soldier Characterization for Adaptive Technologies | 2.1 | — | — |
| Novel Forms of Joint Human-Intelligent Agent Decision Making | 1.1 | 1.1 | — |
| Hybridization of Team Thinking | 3.1 | 3.4 | — |
| Science of Measurement of Individuals and Collectives | 2.0 | 2.0 | — |
| Understanding Multilevel and Organizational Dynamics | 2.2 | 2.0 | — |
| Formal and Informal Learning and Development | 0.9 | 1.0 | — |
| Foundational Research in Personnel Science | — | — | 4.3 |
| Adaptive Soldier-Intelligent System Teaming for Enhanced Decision-Making (ASIST) | — | — | 6.3 |

> 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 AA5 — Biotechnology and Systems Biology

This project conducts fundamental research of biological systems and materials engineered for transformational Army capabilities. This project focuses on technical core competencies including: Materials from Biology; Biological/Abiological Interfaces; Systems Biology; Computational Biology; Synthetic Biology, and how those competencies address Army needs to reduce logistics burden, increase situational awareness, and improve protection. Research will advance from manipulation of single microorganisms to designed microbial consortia for conversion of flexible feedstocks (indigenous and waste) into consistent products for energy and agile expedient manufacturing; advancing from the production of individual small molecules to gradient/precision/specialty materials for production of hierarchical and metamaterials for sensing and protection; and advance from laboratory use to ruggedized organisms and materials for field deployment enabling dynamic, responsive materials, advanced sensing, and materiel protection/denial. Further, understanding the state-of-the-art in genetic engineering and control of biological systems in military environments will allow for understanding the pacing synthetic biology threat to the future operating environment. Work in this project is performed by the Army Research Laboratory (ARL).

| Activity (R-2A) | FY2025 | FY2026 | FY2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engineered Biotechnology | 2.8 | 2.9 | — |
| Synthetic Biology for Dynamic Materials | 3.7 | 3.6 | — |
| Complex Adaptive Mechanisms | 2.3 | 2.4 | 3.3 |
| Synthetic Biology for Dynamic Responses and Materials | — | — | 6.6 |

> 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 AA1 — ILIR - AMC

Work in this project supports basic research through the In-House Laboratory Independent Research (ILIR) program. Basic research lays the foundation for future developmental efforts by identifying fundamental principles governing various phenomena and appropriate pathways to exploit this knowledge. The ILIR program serves as a catalyst for major technology breakthroughs by providing laboratory directors flexibility in implementing novel research ideas and by nurturing promising young scientists and engineers and is used to attract and retain top doctoral degrees scientists and engineers. The ILIR program also provides a source of competitive funds for peer reviewed efforts at Army laboratories to stimulate high quality, innovative research with significant opportunity for payoff to Army warfighting capability. Work in this project is performed by the Armaments Center (AC), Aviation and Missile Center (AvMC), Chemical Biological Center (CBC), Command, Control, Communication, Computers, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Center (C5ISRC), Ground Vehicle Systems Center (GVSC), Soldier Center (SC) and the Space and Missile Defense Command - Technical Center (SMDC-TC).

| Activity (R-2A) | FY2025 | FY2026 | FY2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chemical Materials - ILIR | 1.1 | 1.2 | — |
| Structural Materials - ILIR | 1.4 | 1.6 | — |
| Advanced Mobility - ILIR | 1.2 | 1.1 | — |
| Functional Materials - ILIR | 1.1 | 1.2 | — |
| Optical Electronics - ILIR | 2.4 | 0.5 | — |
| Comms Cyber IR RF-ILIR | 2.2 | 2.4 | — |
| Aeromechanics - ILIR | 1.3 | 0.3 | — |
| SMDC - ILIR | — | — | 1.1 |
| In-House Laboratory Independent Research (ILIR) | — | — | 7.2 |

> 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 CH9 — Advancing Concepts and Technology Forecasting

This project works across the Command Combat Capabilities Development Command, with Futures and Concepts Center, and the Directorate of Intelligence and Security to identify future emerging and disruptive basic scientific research outcomes to translate, integrate, and ingrain research outcomes with Army Warfighting Concepts. Army Warfighting Concepts describe how the Army will fight in the far-term future and the Future Operational Environment contextualizes projected basic research in the deep future. Outcomes describe the projected future operational effects of science in the context of Army Concepts and the Future Operational Environment to enable informed decision making and mitigate risk for future Army capabilities. Technology Forecasting develops timely, objective, scientifically-grounded projections of scientific advances that hold promise to impact future operational capabilities for the Army. Future and emerging scientific areas are described and communicated across the Army Modernization Enterprise to inform Science and Technology decisions. Advancing Concepts ensures Army Concepts are grounded by recent and anticipated discoveries in basic scientific research. Army basic research is use-inspired to address the future capability needs identified in the Army Concepts, and learning opportunities are created to advance Army Concepts and operationalize science for transformational overmatch. Work in this project is performed by the Army Research Laboratory (ARL).

| Activity (R-2A) | FY2025 | FY2026 | FY2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Advancing Concepts and Technology Forecasting | 3.9 | 3.8 | 3.8 |

> 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 AB1 — Basic Res in infect Dis, Oper Med and Combat Care

This Project builds fundamental scientific knowledge contributing to the sustainment of United States Army scientific and technology information to solving military medical problems related to maintaining performance, optimized lethality and supporting medical readiness. This Project provides the means to exploit scientific breakthroughs and avoid technological surprises, and fosters innovation in areas where there is little or no commercial investment due to limited markets (e.g., drugs and treatments for environmental exposures) and maintains laboratory capability to perform these functions. The work is consistent with the Under Secretary of War (Research and Engineering) science and technology focus areas and the Army Modernization Strategy. Work is performed at United States Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine (USARIEM) and/or the United States Army Aeromedical Research Laboratory (USAARL).

| Activity (R-2A) | FY2025 | FY2026 | FY2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Injury Prevention and Reduction | 1.9 | 0.8 | — |
| Physiological Health | 1.3 | 1.3 | — |
| Environmental Health | 1.3 | 0.8 | — |
| Basic Medical Research to Inform Readiness | — | — | 2.7 |

> 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 AA8 — Sensing and Electromagnetics

This project conducts basic research on semiconductor materials, layered structures, and novel devices for optical sources, detectors, integrated optoelectronic circuits, and energy generation and storage devices. Efforts include multiscale modeling, material and structure growth and characterization, and novel device design and fabrication. The research has application to Soldier power, sensors, lower power communications, quantum networks; unattended sensor networks, including distributed sensor fusion; ground vehicle sensors and auxiliary power systems; alternative position, navigation, and timing (PNT) systems for Global Positioning System (GPS)- denied environments; and sensors and power for small unattended ground and air vehicles. Work in this project is performed by Soldier Center (SC).

| Activity (R-2A) | FY2025 | FY2026 | FY2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Advanced Materials Research | 1.1 | — | — |
| Materials Science for Army Power and Communications | 1.7 | — | — |
| Fundamentals for Precision Measurement for Contested Environments | 0.9 | — | — |
| Functional Materials | 1.3 | 1.3 | 1.4 |
| High Energy Laser (HEL) Materials and Thermal Management | 1.1 | — | — |
| Physics-Informed Machine Learning for Complex Phenomena | 3.5 | — | — |
| Semiconductor Modeling for Advanced Electronics | 0.5 | — | — |
| Foundational Distributed Radar | 1.2 | — | — |
| Foundational Sensing | 2.4 | — | — |
| Complex Effects Understanding and Modeling | 4.3 | — | — |
| Compact Non-Linear Elements and Non-Linear Arrays | 4.1 | — | — |
| Novel Materials and Architectures for Emerging Bands and Modalities | 4.1 | — | — |

> 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 T14 — BASIC RESEARCH INITIATIVES - AMC (CA)

Congressional Interest Item funding provided for Defense Research Sciences. The cited work is consistent with the Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering priority focus areas and the Army Modernization Strategy.

### Project AA2 — ILIR - SMDC

This Project supports basic research at the United States Army Space and Missile Defense Command - Technical Center (USASMDC-TC) through the In-House Laboratory Independent Research (ILIR) program. Basic research lays the foundation for future developmental efforts by identifying fundamental principles governing various phenomena and appropriate pathways to exploit this knowledge. The ILIR program serves as a catalyst for major technology breakthroughs by providing laboratory directors flexibility in implementing novel research ideas and by nurturing promising young scientists and engineers and is used to attract and retain top doctoral level scientists and engineers. The ILIR program also provides a source of competitive funds for peer reviewed efforts at Army laboratories to stimulate high quality, innovative research with significant opportunity for payoff to Army warfighting capability. Work in the Project provides a foundation for applied research initiatives at the Army laboratories and research, development, and engineering centers. The cited work is consistent with the Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering priority focus areas and the Army Modernization Strategy. Research within this Project complements other Army Directed Energy efforts conducted under (PE) 0602150A (Air and Missile Defense Technology)/Project DC1 (Next Generation Directed Energy Concept Development and Analysis). Research is performed by the United States Army Space and Missile Defense Command - Technical Center (USASMDC-TC) in coordination with Program Acquisition Executive (PAE) FIRES.

| Activity (R-2A) | FY2025 | FY2026 | FY2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| SMDC In-house Laboratory Independent Research (ILIR) | 1.1 | 1.1 | — |

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

## Mission & acquisition strategy

This Program Element (PE) builds fundamental scientific knowledge contributing to the sustainment of United States (US) Army scientific and technological superiority in land warfighting capability and to solving military problems related to long-term national security needs, investigates new concepts and technologies for the Army's future force, and provides the means to exploit scientific breakthroughs and avoid technological surprises. This PE fosters innovation in Army niche areas (e.g., lightweight armor, energetic materials, and night vision capability) and areas where there are no commercial investments due to limited markets (e.g., vaccines for tropical diseases).

## Related program elements

- [0601275A — Electronic Warfare Basic Research](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0601275A) (Army)
- [0604250D8Z — Advanced Innovative Technologies](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0604250D8Z) (Defense-Wide)
- [0603758N — Navy Warfighting Exp & Demo](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0603758N) (Navy)
- [0602675D8Z — Social Sciences for Environmental Security](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0602675D8Z) (Defense-Wide)

## Source & machine access

- **Source:** FY2027 Department of the Army RDT&E Budget Justification, Exhibits R-2/R-3, PE 0601102A (PB PB2027); FY2027 NDAA committee marks (as of 2026-07-27).
- **MCP:** `mcp.hitchintel.com` — `budget_get_program_element(pe="0601102A")`.

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