What project DK1 buys
This project enhances Army aviation mission capability and addresses operational energy challenges. Includes the development, maturation, and system design of technologies including advanced engines, hybrid and electric systems, power and control allocation, propulsive power delivery, electric actuation, structures, and other technologies that enhance performance, efficiency or are critical to implementation. Work in this project is fully coordinated with Program Element (PE) 0603043A (Air Platform Advanced Technology) / Project DK2 (Air Vehicle Improvements & Advanced Tech (AVIATe)). Work in this project is performed by the Aviation & Missile Center (AvMC).
Project DK1 funding, FY2025–FY2031
Prior years are actuals, the budget year is the request, and the outyears are the FYDP plan. Estimate types are colored and never summed into one figure. Projects carry the full five-year plan; the activities inside them stop at the budget year.
| Fiscal Year | Estimate Type | Amount ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | Actual | 2.6 |
| FY2026 | Enacted | 8.4 |
| FY2027 | Request | 10.3 |
| FY2028 | Outyear | 21.9 |
| FY2029 | Outyear | 23.0 |
| FY2030 | Outyear | 23.6 |
| FY2031 | Outyear | 23.7 |
3 accomplishments / planned programs
The R-2A exhibit — the only level of the budget that describes work that has not happened yet. Activities carry the prior, current and budget year only, no five-year plan. Coverage is partial across the corpus, so count activities, never total them.
FY2027 planned work Will demonstrate the first technology in a series of technology development efforts; continue design of propulsion and power component technology to consist of advanced supplementary power, engines, and/or drive system technology for application to Future Vertical Lift aircraft; funded agreements with industry are anticipated to conduct highly specialized development efforts; conduct in-house research to identify future architectures and system integration requirements.
FY2026 to FY2027 change Funding increase corresponds with funding requirements to execute multiple technology development efforts concurrently.
FY2026 plans — current year Will continue design of propulsion and power component technology to consist of advanced supplementary power, engines, and/or drive system technology for application to Future Vertical Lift aircraft; funded agreements with industry are anticipated to conduct highly specialized development efforts; conduct in-house research to identify future architectures and system integration requirements.
FY2025 accomplishments Will perform design of propulsion and power component technology to consist of advanced supplementary power, engines, and/or drive system technology for application to Future Vertical Lift aircraft.
FY2027 planned work Will synthesize industry design, development and demonstration data and other analysis findings to document the viability, advantages/disadvantages, challenges, transition opportunities, and development timelines for hybrid-electric vertical and/or short take-off and landing (V/STOL) aircraft.
FY2026 to FY2027 change Funding decrease reflects the decision to discontinue conduct specific enabling technology development efforts, prioritizing system level designs and documentation of technical maturity, challenges, and advantages.
FY2026 plans — current year Will begin development activity to mature critical Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 3/4 hybrid-electric system enabling technologies; funded agreements with Industry are anticipated to conduct highly specialized development efforts for components within a hybrid-electric vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) system; conduct in-house testing of components to investigate architectures and system integration.
FY2025 accomplishments Will perform system architecture and hybrid electric technology trade studies to address Army aviation unique gaps.
FY2027 planned work Will investigate barriers to adoption and gaps in MOSA implementation to develop improvements for architecture verification processes and methodologies; determine MBSE techniques to support integration in FVL and feeder S&T program MOSAs; develop processes for hosting, managing, and maturing a Joint Army/Navy/Air Force Domain Specific Data Model (DSDM) for integration, maintaining a leading edge in technology; develop and validate MOSA architecture integration requirements to enable rapid deployment of capability insertions at the speed of need.
FY2026 to FY2027 change Funding increase reflects initiation of this effort. Funding restructured from Program Element (PE) 0602148A (Future Verticle Lift Technology) / Project CI4 (Adaptive Avionics Technologies).