# Autonomy Technology Development

**R-2A activity** of project 622403 — Flight Controls and Pilot-Vehicle Interface  
**Program element:** 0602203F — Aerospace Systems Technologies  
**Component:** U.S. Air Force · **Budget Activity:** 2  
**Vintage:** President's Budget PB2027  
**Canonical URL:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/0602203F/622403/a0  
**Parent:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/0602203F/622403

## Summary

This activity requests $32.0M in FY2027, 47% of project 622403, up 0.0% on FY2026. The R-2A exhibit describes it across FY2026–FY2027, including what the FY2027 money is planned to buy.

## What the FY2027 request buys

**FY2027 planned work.** Complete the development of a mission management autonomy framework. Activities include: -Enabling Autonomy Government Reference Architecture (A-GRA) compliance and containerization of all the skills to facilitate transition. Complete the development and evaluation of algorithm enhancements for a tactical scenario. Activities include: -Simulation and analysis under more challenging mission scenarios as well as A-GRA compliance and flight test. Commence the development of flight behaviors, contingencies, and mission management specific to the terminal area. Activities include: -Landing in austere environments, landing flight behaviors, and landing contingencies including runway incursions, go-arounds, and missed approaches. Commence the development of contingency management at the vehicle, flight, and mission levels including their effect on mission execution/success. Activities include -Developing contingency management monitors and controllers, identifying interfaces and messages to enable contingency management functions. Commence the development of cooperative and strategic teaming of heterogenous teams of unmanned collaborative aircraft, along with decision-making for mission execution. Activities include: -Flight path planning for threat weapon engagement zone avoidance, coordinated maneuvering, tactics, task/role assignment, and weapons allocation. Commence the development of flight maneuvers, behaviors, and tactics for autonomous collaborative platforms and high-speed vehicles. Activities include: -Dynamic flight control for specified maneuvers, flight path planning on a sphere for high-speed vehicles, tactical game theory for weapon engagement zone avoidance, and collaborative teaming for singular mission teams

**FY2026 to FY2027 change.** Not Applicable

## Before the request year

**FY2026 plans — current year.** - Complete the development of a trusted autonomy approach. -Activities include the development of tools and techniques for run-time assurance. - Complete the development, demonstration, and assessment of advanced autonomy capabilities. -Activities include robust modeling and simulation and scaled surrogate testing. - Complete the development of autonomy optimization and assurance in dynamic and uncertain environments. -Activities include developing goals in dynamic maneuvering and weapons engagement zone pursuit or avoidance. - Continue the development of a mission management autonomy framework. -Activities include enhancing compliance with and identifying required modifications to the standard. - Complete the development, demonstration, and assessment of autonomous behaviors. -Activities include advanced dynamic role/lane assignment, adaptive plan/mission management. - Initiate the development and evaluation of algorithm enhancements for a tactical scenario. -Activities include simulation and analysis of airspace deconfliction, counter-air tactics, and weapons employment.

## Funding

| Fiscal Year | Estimate Type | Amount ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | Actual | 0.0 |
| FY2026 | Enacted | 32.0 |
| FY2027 | Request | 32.0 |

> 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 622403

- [Power and Thermal Systems Technology Development](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0602203F/622403/a4) — FY2027 26.4
- Strategic Analysis Technology Development — FY2027 9.1
- Advanced Flight Controls Technologies — FY2027 0.0
- Manned and Unmanned Teaming Technologies — FY2027 0.0

## Source & machine access

- **Source:** FY2027 Department of the Air Force RDT&E Budget Justification, Exhibit R-2A, PE 0602203F project 622403 (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.*