# Synthetic Biomanufactured Energetics

**R-2A activity** of project AH6 — Disruptive Energetics and Propulsion Technologies  
**Program element:** 0602141A — Lethality Technology  
**Component:** U.S. Army · **Budget Activity:** 2  
**Vintage:** President's Budget PB2027  
**Canonical URL:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/0602141A/AH6/a1  
**Parent:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/0602141A/AH6

> **NEW START.** $22.7M requested in FY2027 with no prior-year and no current-year funding.

## Summary

This activity requests $22.7M in FY2027, 82% of project AH6 — a new start with no prior-year and no current-year money. The R-2A exhibit describes it across FY2027, including what the FY2027 money is planned to buy.

## What the FY2027 request buys

**FY2027 planned work.** Will mature biological synthesis and biomanufacturing to produce multi-kilogram quantities of energetic materials for formulation assessments; design and develop AI models for additional bio-reachable precursors for advanced energetics applications; begin conducting experiments for scale-up of next precursor molecule; designs and develops bio manufactured processes of energetic material to support scale-up and transition to defense base industry partners; investigate and determine additional biologically produced energetic precursor materials for scalability to support multi-kilogram quantities; mature biologically derived cellulose synthesis conditions for optimal purity, crystallinity, and fiber morphology and refine nitrating conditions for biologically derived cellulose to obtain nitrocellulose; determine impact of biologically derived nitrocellulose fibers on processing and performance of nitrocellulose propellants; investigate cellulose production from down selected candidates and synthetic biology routes for improved yield and quality; conduct experiments with artificial intelligence (AI) modeling to mature bacterial strains for higher production and ideal cellulose characterization.

**FY2026 to FY2027 change.** Funding increase reflects additional research in both AI/ML modeling for laboratory research to mature production conditions of novel biologically-derived precursor material beyond cellulose. Funding increase supports investigation and development of formulations of biologically-derived nitrocellulose material as an additional source for nitrocellulose military-based applications.

## Funding

| Fiscal Year | Estimate Type | Amount ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| FY2027 | Request | 22.7 |

> Prior, current and budget year only — an R-2A activity carries no five-year plan. It sums exactly into its project in the request year and not necessarily in any other.

## Other activities in project AH6

- Synthesis, Formulation, Modeling, and Diagnostics of Energetic Materials for Explosive and Propellant Applications — FY2027 5.0

## Source & machine access

- **Source:** FY2027 Department of the Army RDT&E Budget Justification, Exhibit R-2A, PE 0602141A project AH6 (PB PB2027). Narrative is the government's own text.
- **No marks, no contractors at this grain** — congressional marks land on the program element and R-3 performers on the project.
- **MCP:** `mcp.hitchintel.com` — `budget_get_activity`.

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