What project A41 buys
This project investigates and develops subsystem and component level technologies that enable advanced teaming behaviors for mixed platform formations in combined arms operations. Primary component technologies to develop are in the areas of resilient autonomy algorithms, team-based communications and situational awareness management, decision aiding for weapons systems engagement, autonomous terrain and collision avoidance, and human autonomy interface design. Work in this project is performed by the Aviation & Missile Center (AvMC), and the Command, Control, Communication, Computers, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C5ISR) Center.
Project A41 funding, FY2026–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) |
|---|---|---|
| FY2026 | Enacted | 12.0 |
| FY2027 | Request | 11.0 |
| FY2028 | Outyear | 10.3 |
| FY2029 | Outyear | 10.4 |
| FY2030 | Outyear | 10.2 |
| FY2031 | Outyear | 10.3 |
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 conduct experiments with injection moldable EOIR designs and low-cost novel polymer materials to reduce component costs and leverage novel optical materials for attritable solutions on low SWaP UAS platforms; begin validating enhanced manned-unmanned team execution through application of novel sensing techniques; determine payload components suitable for UAS and rapid technology transition.
FY2026 to FY2027 change Funding decrease represents leveraging existing optical materials for UAS platforms.
FY2026 plans — current year Will experiment with infrared optics designs and materials to increase range performance and overcome packaging limitations for low SWaP UAS platforms; demonstrate enhanced manned unmanned team mission execution through application of novel sensors; deliver payload components for gimbal integration and technology transition.
FY2027 planned work Will explore the development of AI/ML technologies that enable Unmanned Aerial Systems/Launched Effects (UAS/LE) team-of-teams ecosystem operations in contested environments, provide real-time changes in tactics to adapt to dynamic operating environments, and enable rapid fleet-wide upgrades post-flight for continued?operational dominance against a rapidly evolving threat?.
FY2026 to FY2027 change Funding increase reflects restructure from Program Element (PE) 0602148A (Future Verticle Lift Technology) / Project AK9 (Tactical Aviation Operations Learning (TAO-L) Concepts).
FY2026 to FY2027 change Funding decrease reflects completion of this effort.
FY2026 plans — current year Will further develop and enhance technologies that enable UAS team-of-teams ecosystem operations in contested, complex urban / fringe and littoral environments with degraded networks, including intra and extra team communications management, tactical navigation, and comprehensive learning-based mission planning with dynamic risk-informed adaptability for prolonged teamed operations in contested environments.