# FLight Advancement of Structures for Hypersonics (FLASH) (INP)

**R-2A activity** of project 1507 — Naval Aerospace  
**Program element:** 0602750N — Future Naval Capabilities Applied Research  
**Component:** U.S. Navy · **Budget Activity:** 2  
**Vintage:** President's Budget PB2027  
**Canonical URL:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/0602750N/1507/a2  
**Parent:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/0602750N/1507

## Summary

This activity requests $34.0M in FY2027, 81% of project 1507, up 129% 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.** - Continue performing a Mission Engineering Analysis and Operational Analysis (OA) to inform mission-level performance requirements. - Continue performing aerodynamic/thermal trajectory modeling and simulation to inform system materials capability and vehicle trajectory requirements. - Continue executing applied research and prototype testing of program-identified Critical Technology Enablers (CTEs). - Complete performing system engineering analyses to develop system functional and performance requirements. - Complete establishing and managing requirements baseline. - Complete performing system requirements decomposition to subsystems. - Complete performing a System Requirements and Design Review (SRDR). - Complete performing a Preliminary Design Review (PDR). - Initiate analytical studies and computational modeling to establish proof-of-concept for novel, high-performance aerodynamic shapes and control surface functions. - Initiate Hypersonic wind tunnel test campaigns to validate analytical predictions of aerodynamic and aerothermal characteristics for representative vehicle configurations. - Initiate analytical studies to evaluate the feasibility of innovative, high-temperature structural and thermal protection system (TPS) concepts and materials. - Initiate high temperature ground test campaigns (i.e. arc jets and plasma torches) to validate TPS materials in a relevant environment. - Initiate modeling and simulation to demonstrate proof-of-concept for the fundamental performance of advanced control actuation system components and high-temperature seals. - Initiate proof-of-concept design on thermal battery power supply and validation in a laboratory environment. - Initiate analytical and laboratory studies to identify and characterize advanced instrumentation and sensor technologies for future testing requirements. - Initiate analytical studies to increase manufacturability and lower costs associated with fabrication, integration and deployment of FLASH vehicle.

**FY2026 to FY2027 change.** The increase in funding from FY 2026 to FY 2027 reflects the program's planned maturation from computational analysis to ground test. The FY 2027 budget enables the critical next step of applied research: the design, fabrication, and detailed testing of physical hardware. This funding supports resource-intensive activities including hypersonic wind tunnel campaigns and extensive laboratory testing of key vehicle elements such as high-temperature structural components, thermal protection systems, and advanced control actuation systems. This investment in physical testing is required to validate analytical models and provides the necessary empirical data and risk reduction to mature the critical technologies required for the full-scale flight demonstration vehicle.

## Before the request year

**FY2026 plans — current year.** Business Area 2 -Perform a Mission Engineering Analysis and Operational Analysis (OA) to inform mission level performance requirements -Perform aerodynamic/thermal trajectory modeling and simulation to inform system materials capability and vehicle trajectory requirements -Execute applied research and prototype testing of program identified Critical Technology Enablers (CTEs) Business Area 3 -Perform system engineering analyses to develop system functional and performance requirements -Establish and manage requirements baseline -Perform system requirements decomposition to subsystems -Perform a System Requirements and Design Review (SRDR)

## Funding

| Fiscal Year | Estimate Type | Amount ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | Actual | 0.0 |
| FY2026 | Enacted | 14.8 |
| FY2027 | Request | 34.0 |

> 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 1507

- Air Platforms — FY2027 8.2
- STARDANCAR-M (INP) — FY2027 0.0

## Source & machine access

- **Source:** FY2027 Department of the Navy RDT&E Budget Justification, Exhibit R-2A, PE 0602750N project 1507 (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.*