Long Range Precision Fires Technology

Will develop simulation capability for trajectory optimization and improved munition survivability; develop methods for inertial sensing and sensor fusion for improved navigation; develop lethality models for Army tactical and precision strike munitions; Investigate and develop novel high temperature and lower-cost materials for missile…

Will develop and review concept and component technical requirements for advanced fires concepts; integrate novel survivability technologies and techniques into the modeling and simulation environment; refine identified leading methods and technology for optimized performance in current missile systems

FY2026 to FY2027 change Funding decrease reflects the completion of this effort.

FY2026 plans — current year Will design and develop novel materials to improve the expected life and performance of large caliber cannons to include: cannon cooling methods, high temperature composites, and advanced high-strength materials, processing techniques, bore coatings and methods of heat rejections/ transmission for new cannon designs; validate advanced modeling methods for complex cannon structures and performance.

FY2025 accomplishments Will assess novel materials to improve the expected life and performance of large caliber cannons to include: cannon cooling methods, high temperature composites, refractory coatings, and advanced methods of heat rejections/ transmission for new cannon designs.

FY2026 to FY2027 change Funding decrease reflects realignment to Precision Fuze and Power for Munitions within this project.

FY2026 plans — current year Will design and develop munitions enabling technologies including targeting algorithms that focus on Synthetic Aperture Radar data; determine collaborative engagement algorithms into hardware in the loop modeling and simulation architecture; continue maturation of gun hardening technologies to include inertial measurement units and seeker processor hardware; investigate technologies to reduce munition radar cross section

FY2025 accomplishments Will mature munition components to include: radio frequency convergence and multimodal seeker technologies, gun-hardened inertial navigation systems, on-board targeting algorithms, and munition self-protection capabilities to increase precision and effectiveness for large caliber armaments at extended ranges; investigate small form factor gun hardened components against aerial and ground targets; design and develop hardware and software in the loop for a full array of precision subsystems.

FY2026 to FY2027 change Funding decrease is due to the transition of the technologies to Program Element (PE) 0603464A Long Range Precision Fires Advanced Technology / Project CE9 Armaments Advanced Technology for further maturation.

FY2026 plans — current year Will design and develop lethal and non-lethal sub-munition component technologies and designs to ensure survivability within cannon artillery gun launch environments; conduct experiments to determine robustness of baseline designs; mature key interfacing munition component features to enable integration within munition airframe volume constraints; determine the overall operational effectiveness of component payloads at extended ranges.

FY2025 accomplishments Will investigate the operational effectiveness of component payloads at current and extended ranges; investigate data requirements across the setter, projectile, and payload subsystems for operation at extended ranges in austere environments; design and develop key interfacing munition component features to enable integration within munition airframe volume constraints; mature munition and sub-munition payload component designs for gun-launch survivability.

FY2027 planned work ill investigate key gaps within fuzing, precision subcomponents, and munitions power. Will design and develop precision components, fuzing, and munition power solutions for counter UAS, attritable munitions, and munition survivability in contested environments. Will investigate advanced algorithms for autonomous/semi-autonomous fuzing.

FY2026 to FY2027 change This is not a new effort. FY 2027 funding increase reflects the consolidation of other ongoing efforts within this project from Precision Munitions Technology and Fuze and Power Technologies for Munitions from Program Element (PE) 0602147A (Long Range Precision Fires Technology) / Project BN5 (Fuze and Power for Munitions).

FY2027 planned work Will investigate novel chemistries and advanced materials to increase the energy density of munition reserve batteries.

FY2026 to FY2027 change Funding increase is to develop next-generation batteries for munitions.

FY2027 planned work Will investigate emerging thermoplastics for use in extruded composite propellants; Investigate novel propellant oxidizing methods and develop low burn rate propellants for extended range; Develop and validate prediction models for thermodynamic latent propulsion

FY2026 to FY2027 change Funding increase reflects top line increase identified as an Army Science Board priority in PB26 for novel propulsion development for extended range and increased lethality.

FY2026 plans — current year Will identify and investigate emerging propulsion technologies driven by the future operating environment for Long Range Precision Fires design concepts and missile propulsion and sub-component performance requirements. Perform trade studies and initial modeling and simulation performance evaluations including non-traditional propulsion technologies for extended ranges, and hypersonic applications.

FY2027 planned work Will investigate methods to improve cannon artillery fires to support future operational environment in cross-domain engagements with manned, uncrewed, optionally manned, and autonomy-enabled systems.

FY2026 to FY2027 change Funding decreased due to reduced number of methods under consideration.

FY2026 plans — current year Will investigate methods to improve cannon artillery fires to support future operational environment in cross-domain engagements with manned, uncrewed, optionally manned, and autonomy-enabled systems.

FY2027 planned work Complete assessment focused on confirming technology readiness level of maneuvering flight and mid-course navigation technologies.

FY2026 to FY2027 change Funding decrease represents the conclusion of this effort in FY2027.

FY2025 accomplishments Will explore high-level control algorithms for high-speed weapons that employ data-driven or model-based approaches to include formation flight, trajectory shaping, and optimal real-time information gathering and evasion; improve aerodynamic modeling and understanding of complex, high-speed maneuvering weapon vehicle dynamics via free-flight experimentation (spark range, onboard sensor) and computational studies; formulate parameter estimation algorithms and use for onboard sensor gun firing data analysis to confirm aerodynamic performance of high-speed weapon; incorporate onboard electronics, sensors, and actuators into lab-scale experimental platform for research range gun firings…

FY2026 to FY2027 change This effort completes in FY 2026 due to the consolidation of projects under Program Element (PE) 0602147A Long Range Precision Fires Technology.

FY2026 plans — current year Will investigate novel fuze and power technologies to advance capabilities within electronic safe and arm devices, fuze setting, highly configurable fuzing, and optimal height of burst; mature single chip component proximity sensors for reduced size, weight, and power; design and develop munition power sources and common interfaces to meet emerging energy and power requirements.

FY2025 accomplishments Will investigate novel fuze and power technologies including tracking proximity sensor single chip technology, aimpoint refinement sensing, energy transfer mechanisms for advanced initiation schemes and high-power density technology for munitions and extreme environments; validate wireless fuze setting for increased fuze setting speed and future automation; develop algorithms and architectures for dynamic triggering.