What project CP6 buys
This project works collaboratively with Joint Service partners to investigate and determine novel biotechnology methods and processes to establish a domestic resilient supply chain for defense needs. Applied research designs and conducts experiments on bio-derived, bio-functionalized, and bio-manufactured materials and biosynthetic precursors. Efforts under this project investigate and validate models for design of defense applications. Areas of focus may include reclamation or sequestration of rare Earth/critical elements in the defense supply chain and drop-in replacements for currently employed military materials. This project develops biomanufacturing capabilities of mission-critical materials for military use. This project enables the Army to achieve Multi-Domain Operations by securing the supply chain and bridging the gap between laboratory-scale material production and large-scale manufacturing for mission-critical materials. This project also designs and investigates materials through the application of biotechnology and synthetic biology advances to develop material capabilities that respond and/or can adapt to a wide range of external stimuli and biological processes. Research into innovative materials that are capable of sensing, responding, and adapting to a broad spectrum of environmental variables will be conducted. Efforts will also focus on developing models, materials characterization techniques, non-destructive testing methods, advanced fabrication and processing methodologies, and the identification of unique material properties. Work in this project compliments PE 0603386A (Biotechnology for Materials - Advanced Research) / CP7 (Biotechnology Demonstration and Evaluation).
Project CP6 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 | 9.6 |
| FY2026 | Enacted | 7.2 |
| FY2027 | Request | 15.0 |
| FY2028 | Outyear | 18.6 |
| FY2029 | Outyear | 18.8 |
| FY2030 | Outyear | 19.0 |
| FY2031 | Outyear | 19.2 |
2 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 use synthetic biology to design and develop protective materials and/or additives across the electro-optical/electromagnetic (EO/EM) spectrum; investigate biomaterial integration into polymers and composites; investigate the use of synthetic biology to engineer microorganisms for multi-stimuli input sensing and situational awareness compatible with existing Army sensing modalities; expand multimodal sensing capabilities towards adaptive mechanisms for dynamic environments; develop and deliver 100-gram to multi-kilogram purified materials (primary ignitors, protective coatings, signature management, lubricants) via biomanufacturing that will be ready for incorporation into existing…
FY2026 to FY2027 change This is not a new start effort. Funding realigned to support the creation of Foundational Biotechnology in FY 2027.
FY2027 planned work Will continue collaboratively with Joint Service partners to research, develop, exploit, and integrate biotechnologies to secure the supply chain of military materials for munitions, energetics, fuels, lubricants, fabrics, ceramics, and composites to enhance the capability of DoW systems performance. Chartered to create a pipeline incorporating DoW Service Laboratories, non-traditional defense contractors, and transition partners, T-BRSC to develop novel biotechnology-enabled solutions to DoW requirements in enhanced lethality, contested logistics, sustainment and readiness. This occurs through innovation at Service laboratories, co-development with non-traditional defense contractors, and…
FY2026 to FY2027 change Funding increase reflects economic adjustment.
FY2026 plans — current year Will continue research to determine feasibility of biotechnology use in military munitions, energetics, fuel and lubricants to reduce the logistics burden, and shaping biomanufacturing by investigating the point-of-need research; design and developing biotechnology derived ceramics and composite materials to enhance the capability of DoW systems and structures in hypersonic and high temperature environments; research biotechnology materials to increase the signature management and fire-retardant capability of military fabrics; continue to exploit biotechnologies to recover rare earth elements necessary for critical defense components and advanced technologies; continue to mature software…
FY2025 accomplishments Will fund research to determine feasibility of biotechnology use in military munitions, fuel & lubricants to reduce the logistics burden by investigating the point-of-need manufacturing; design and develop biotechnology derived ceramics and composite materials to enhance the capability of DoD systems and structures in hypersonic an/or high temperature environments; research biotechnology materials to increase the signature management capability of military fabrics; continue to exploit biotechnologies to recover rare earth elements (REE) necessary for critical defense components and advanced technologies; continue to mature software pipelines for data ingestion, data homogenization across…