What project CL4 buys
This project focuses on experimentation and demonstration of advanced technologies originating from extramural applied research in academia pertaining to navigation/routing, autonomous robotic vehicles, artificial intelligence and machine learning as applied to aerial mobility and maneuver, holistic survivability, teaming, integrated mission systems, air-launched effects, and other innovative air enabling applied research technologies, that will accelerate the Army modernization in next generation aerial vehicles. This project will mature and integrate advanced efforts to focus more on mid to far-term Army modernization priorities while also maintaining delivery of near-term technologies fundamental to the modernization priorities. This effort conducts and demonstrates advanced technology efforts arising from academic research in all areas of strategic importance to Army Aviation in artificial intelligence / machine learning (AI/ML), autonomous teaming systems, survivability, aeromechanics, advanced vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) design & concepts, flight dynamics, vibration & noise control, propulsion, human factor engineering and structures and materials, etc., by bringing competitively selected Universities with research and development teams into Technical Alliances. The project will continuously experiment with methods to identify, demonstrate and transition novel technology from entities that might not otherwise collaborate with the DoW, with the end goal of accelerating the adoption of cutting-edge applied research technology for the warfighter in the Army aviation portfolio. Work in this project complements PE 0603465A (Future Vertical Lift Advanced Technology), PE 0603119A (Ground Advanced Technology), PE 0602148A (Future Vertical Lift Technology) and PE 0602183A (Air Platform Applied Research). Work in this project is performed by the Army Research Laboratory (ARL).
Project CL4 funding, FY2025–FY2026
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 | 1.4 |
| FY2026 | Enacted | 10.0 |
1 accomplishment / planned program
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.
FY2025 accomplishments Will mature and demonstrate the coordination of multiple land and air vehicles participating in an unmanned long-term reconnaissance operation using distributed command/control architecture despite communication delays and/or failures; mature and demonstrate rotorcraft emerging technologies through aeromechanics, advanced Vertical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL) design & concepts, and develop flight dynamics models to extend reach and agility. The benefit of this effort is it enables future vertical lift capability improvements.