# Applied Research for the Advancement of S&T Priorities — Program Element 0602251D8Z

**Program element:** 0602251D8Z  
**Component:** Defense-Wide  
**Appropriation:** 0400 — RDT&E, Defense-Wide  
**Budget Activity:** 2 — Applied Research  
**Vintage:** President's Budget PB2027  
**Canonical URL:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/0602251D8Z

## Summary

Defense-Wide funding ramps 22% to a $59.6M request in FY2027, sustained across the five-year plan. In the FY2027 defense authorization, the House funded it in full; the Senate funded it in full; House appropriators funded it in full.

## Funding profile

| Fiscal Year | Estimate Type | Amount ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | Actual | 52.0 |
| FY2026 | Enacted | 48.8 |
| FY2027 | Request | 59.6 |
| FY2028 | Outyear | 61.2 |
| FY2029 | Outyear | 63.6 |
| FY2030 | Outyear | 66.8 |
| FY2031 | Outyear | 70.0 |

> 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 | 59.6 | — |
| House NDAA (HASC) | 59.6 | +0.0 |
| Senate NDAA (SASC) | 59.6 | +0.0 |
| House Approps (HAC-D) | 59.6 | +0.0 |

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

## Projects (1)

| Project | Title | FY2025 actual | FY2026 enacted | FY2027 request | Move |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 227 | Applied Research for the Advancement of S&T Priorities | 52.0 | 48.8 | 59.6 | +22% |

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

### Project 227 — Applied Research for the Advancement of S&T Priorities

The Applied Research for the Advancement of Science and Technology (S&T) Priorities program was established to implement Department-wide technology development portfolios and foster tri-Service research areas of common interest within cross-cutting S&T efforts. The program has three investment areas:(1) three-year applied research projects selected by the S&T Executive Committee (EXCOM); (2) two-year technology projects nominated by the S&T Communities of Interest (CoIs) to address technology gaps or opportunities; and (3) technology assessment and study support to the CoIs. The execution of the ARAP Program by the Office of the Secretary of War and the support it provides to the CoIs inspires and ensures joint strategic S&T oversight and multi-Service, multi-agency collaboration and coordination. The Applied Research for the Advancement of Science and Technology (S&T) Priorities (ARAP) Program directly supports the National Defense Strategy and aligns with DoW critical science and technology priorities, strengthening broadly applicable technical capabilities and fostering emerging technologies within the Department of War laboratories to enhance warfighter advantages. By funding foundational enabling technologies, the ARAP Program facilitates the design, development, advancement and transition of early-stage technologies and novel ideas, translating promising research into solutions for critical military needs that directly improve situational awareness through advanced sensors, enhanced lethality with precision weaponry, and more effective communication and coordination. Continuous infusion of new technology ensures our forces maintain a decisive edge and have the flexibility needed to adapt to diverse and rapidly changing operational environments. Furthermore, the ARAP Program fosters increased collaboration and partnership among science and engineering teams of subject matter experts across the DoW enterprise, providing funding to recruit top national talent from universities, and bolsters the in-house scientific and technical research capabilities of DoW laboratories, ultimately accelerating the delivery of advanced capabilities to our warfighters. The ARAP Program funds the activities of the DoW Reliance 21 collaborative framework.

| Activity (R-2A) | FY2025 | FY2026 | FY2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Applied Research for the Advancement of S&T Priorities (ARAP) | 48.5 | 45.3 | 56.1 |
| Science & Technology (S&T) Communities of Interest (CoIs) | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.5 |

> 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

The Applied Research for the Advancement of Science and Technology (S&T) Priorities (ARAP) Program directly supports the Interim National Defense Strategy and aligns with DoW critical science and technology priorities, strengthening broadly applicable technical capabilities and fostering emerging technologies within the Department of War laboratories to enhance warfighter advantages.

## Related program elements

- [0602128D8Z — Promotion and Protection Strategies](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0602128D8Z) (Defense-Wide)
- [0608775D8Z — Accelerate the Procurement and Fielding of Innovative Technologies](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0608775D8Z) (Defense-Wide)
- [0601104A — University and Industry Research Centers](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0601104A) (Army)
- [0901554F — Defense Enterprise Acntng and Mgt Sys (DEAMS)](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0901554F) (Air Force)

## Source & machine access

- **Source:** FY2027 Office of the Secretary of Defense RDT&E Budget Justification, Exhibits R-2/R-3, PE 0602251D8Z (PB PB2027); FY2027 NDAA committee marks (as of 2026-07-27).
- **MCP:** `mcp.hitchintel.com` — `budget_get_program_element(pe="0602251D8Z")`.

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