# Applied Research for the Advancement of S&T Priorities (ARAP)

**R-2A activity** of project 227 — Applied Research for the Advancement of S&T Priorities  
**Program element:** 0602251D8Z — Applied Research for the Advancement of S&T Priorities  
**Component:** Defense-Wide · **Budget Activity:** 2  
**Vintage:** President's Budget PB2027  
**Canonical URL:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/0602251D8Z/227/a0  
**Parent:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/0602251D8Z

## Summary

This activity requests $56.1M in FY2027, 94% of project 227, up 24% on FY2026. The R-2A exhibit describes it across FY2025–FY2027, including what the FY2027 money is planned to buy.

## What the FY2027 request buys

**FY2027 planned work.** Provide Funding for High-Priority ARAP Projects: • Classical-quantum Hybrid constructs to Advance Weapons Systems (CLAWS) ARAP Project. CLAWS is a tri-service, multi-laboratory effort that will develop and demonstrate novel phenomena such as new phases in 2D materials and heterostructures, and long scale atomic coherence, to create disruptive DoW- capabilities in Infrared imaging, Positioning Navigation and Timing (PNT), and nanophotonic devices that will provide advanced capabilities to many military systems. The CLAWS program focus in FY 2027 will be transition activities with increased focus on transitioning into Advanced Technology Development and Advance Component development programs. • Hypersonic Infrared Target Sensing (HITS). HITS is a tri-service, multi-laboratory effort that will develop the transformational sensing solutions needed to place an infrared (IR) seeker on a hot hypersonic interceptor. HITS Program completion of research efforts and increased focus on transitioning into Advanced Technology Development and Advance Component development programs. • Distributed Collaborative Multistatic Radar for Long-range Information-fusion (DC-MURALI) Awardee, is a tri service, multi-laboratory effort that will develop low cost distributed transmitter and receivers along with the revolutionary signal processing to merge those into a dynamic distributed radar system increase sensing range while creating resilience and graceful degradation if some elements of the distributed system are attacked. • Fund FY 2027 Emerging Research Opportunities (EROs). • EROs accelerate BA 2, cross-cutting technologies that are enabled through multi-Service and multi-discipline collaboration. • Solicit White Papers for FY 2027 EROs.

**FY2026 to FY2027 change.** The increase of $10.715 million between FY 2026 and 2027 reflects extension in CLAWS and continuation of HITS, DC MURALI and newly awarded FY 2027 ARAP Projects.

## Before the request year

**FY2026 plans — current year.** To ensure continued progress on critically relevant, high-priority long-term hard problems identified on the DoW Services and Agencies research and engineering technology roadmaps, sustained funding is essential for the ARAP program’s four ongoing projects. Projects are jointly selected due to their direct impact on closing key technological gaps, making their continued support a strategic imperative for future advancements. Rapidly evolving global threats demand that our forces possess the most advanced technology to outpace adversaries. Investing in new technologies (high-temperature materials; sophisticated guidance and control systems; scramjets and dual-mode ramjets; quantum hybrid constructs) is not just about modernization; it’s about equipping our warfighters with the critical tools they need to deter threats, succeed in their mission, and return home safely. The four high-priority ARAP projects supported in FY 2026 are vital steps in this direction, directly addressing identified gaps and ensuring our warfighters have the technological superiority they need. • Distributed Collaborative Multistatic Radar for Long-range Information-fusion (DC-MURALI) address the challenges of autonomously detecting, locating, and identifying surface targets using radars on low cost, size, weight and power systems. DC-MURALI is pursuing a revolutionary approach to target sensing by using these radars as a collaborative “team” to enhance resilience of mission in a contested environment and to improve target location accuracies. • High-Priority ARAP Projects: Classical-quantum Hybrid constructs to Advance Weapons Systems (CLAWS) ARAP Project. CLAWS is a tri-service, multi-laboratory effort that will develop and demonstrate novel phenomena such as new phases in 2D materials and heterostructures, and long scale atomic coherence, to create disruptive DoW capabilities in Infrared imaging, Positioning, Navigation and Timing (PNT), and nanophotonic devices, that will provide advanced capabilities to many military systems. • Hypersonic Infrared Target Sensing (HITS). HITS is a tri-service, multi-laboratory effort that will develop the transformational sensing solutions needed to place an infrared (IR) seeker on a hot hypersonic interceptor. • Advanced Power Electronics and Extreme-Radio Frequency (APEX-RF). APEX is developing advanced ultrawide bandgap semiconductor (UWBGS) materials and devices that demonstrate revolutionary solid-state power amplifier and point-of-load power conversion performance for radar sensing and ultrafast high power switching applications. APEX, in its fourth year, is transitioning significantly more capable devices to programs of record for integration • Fund four FY 2026 Emerging Research Opportunities (EROs). • EROs accelerate BA 2, cross-cutting technologies that are enabled through multi-Service and multi-discipline collaborations.

**FY2025 accomplishments.** Complete Advanced Power Electronics and Extreme-Radio Frequency (APEX) (Year 3 of 3) a Tri-service, multi-laboratory development of a robust, solid-state, high-power Radio Frequency device technology required to meet the future needs of the warfighter and counter emerging threats from our adversaries. Investigation of higher power RF transmitter chip sets improved thermal management and establish US capabilities in ultra-wide bandgap materials. Continue Applied Research for the Advancement of Science and Technology Priorities (ARAP) project selected in FY 2023 and initiated in FY 2024, Classical-quantum Hybrid constructs to Advance Weapons Systems (CLAWS) (Year 2 of 3). CLAWS is a Tri-service, multi-laboratory effort that will develop and demonstrate novel phenomena such as new phases in 2D materials and heterostructures, and long scale atomic coherence, to create disruptive DoD- capabilities in Infrared imaging, Positioning, Navigation and Timing (PNT), and nanophotonic devices, that will provide advanced capabilities to many military systems, particularly missiles and weapons platforms. Funding reductions will require the ARAP program to accept additional risk in on-going efforts as well as to reduce flexibility in the breadth of activities that can be supported. Specifically, the scope of the new ARAP project to be selected in third quarter FY 2024 must be reduced to accommodate the funding adjustments.

## Funding

| Fiscal Year | Estimate Type | Amount ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | Actual | 48.5 |
| FY2026 | Enacted | 45.3 |
| FY2027 | Request | 56.1 |

> 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 227

- Science & Technology (S&T) Communities of Interest (CoIs) — FY2027 3.5

## Source & machine access

- **Source:** FY2027 Office of the Secretary of Defense RDT&E Budget Justification, Exhibit R-2A, PE 0602251D8Z project 227 (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.*