# Unmanned Aerial System — Program Element 0603128N

**Program element:** 0603128N  
**Component:** U.S. Navy  
**Appropriation:** 1319 — RDT&E, Navy  
**Budget Activity:** 4 — Advanced Component Development & Prototypes  
**Vintage:** President's Budget PB2027  
**Canonical URL:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/0603128N

## Summary

U.S. Navy funding ramps 26% to a $35.7M request in FY2027. In the FY2027 defense authorization, the House funded it in full; the Senate funded it in full; House appropriators added 98% (to $70.7M). RTX / Raytheon leads the industry work.

## Funding profile

| Fiscal Year | Estimate Type | Amount ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | Actual | 75.8 |
| FY2026 | Enacted | 28.4 |
| FY2027 | Request | 35.7 |
| FY2028 | Outyear | 31.8 |
| FY2029 | Outyear | 29.5 |
| FY2030 | Outyear | 24.2 |
| FY2031 | Outyear | 24.6 |

> Estimate types are not summed — the profile mixes actuals, enacted law, the request, and outyear projections.

## Congressional marks (FY2027)

| Stage | Marked ($M) | Change ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| Request | 35.7 | — |
| House NDAA (HASC) | 35.7 | +0.0 |
| Senate NDAA (SASC) | 35.7 | +0.0 |
| House Approps (HAC-D) | 70.7 | +35.0 |

> FY2027 NDAA authorization marks, as of 2026-07-27. Not appropriations or final law.

## Projects (1)

| Project | Title | FY2025 actual | FY2026 enacted | FY2027 request | Move |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3448 | Marine Group 5 UAS Development | 75.8 | 28.4 | 35.7 | +26% |

> Projects are the summable leaves: the program element total is their sum, never added to it.

### Project 3448 — Marine Group 5 UAS Development

The FY 2027 MALE program funding, PE 0603128N, addresses requirements identified in the October 2016 MUX ICD and April 2020 MUX Requirements Clarification document. Project 3448 - MALE RDTE is pursuing MQ-9A mission (payloads/sensors) and mission enabler capabilities design, development capabilities and integration and testing. These capabilities will support the MALE program's electronic warfare, Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA), tactical edge automation, and airborne network support missions. Consisting of Common Operating and Intelligence Picture (COP/CIP), Detect and Avoid System (DAAS), Airborne Network Extension (ANE), Electronic Support development, integration and testing. Additionally, this RDTE is pursuing automated sensor synchronization and onboard forward edge data fusion and transmission using AI/ML apparatus that will transmit fused signals and visual information back to Marine and Joint intelligence apparatus and proliferate the information at the forward edge to Stand-In Forces (SIF) through the use of Proliferated Low Earth Orbit (PLEO). The PLEO SatCom capacity provides high data throughput and resilient command and control architecture. The USMC MALE program will be supported by UX-24 and VMX-1 as the primary test activity/squadron for capability development as well as system modification validation efforts. UX-24 will provide direct support of testing associated with payloads/sensors in support of USMC requirements. The payloads/sensors which undergo testing may require or drive hardware and software modifications during testing to satisfy system, subsystem and component level test parameters. VMX-1 provides operational test and evaluation of capabilities for MAGTF SIF such as the Marine Littoral Regiment.

**Named R-3 performers** (share of this project's FY2027 R-3 total, so they need not reach 100%)**:** RTX / Raytheon (14.2, 40%), NAWCAD (11.4, 32%), General Atomics (5.0, 14%).

| Activity (R-2A) | FY2025 | FY2026 | FY2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| MALE Primary Hardware/Software Development/Integration | 44.7 | 9.9 | 19.1 |
| MALE Mission Systems Payload Support | 20.5 | 12.1 | 12.5 |
| MALE Developmental and Operational Test | 10.7 | 6.4 | 4.1 |

> R-2A activities carry the prior, current and budget year only — no five-year plan. Coverage is partial, so count them, never total them.

## Where the FY2027 request goes

| Category | Share | $M |
|---|---|---|
| Industry primes | 85% | 30.5 |
| Other / unspecified | 15% | 5.2 |

**Top named industry performers:** RTX / Raytheon ($14.2M, 40%), NAWCAD ($11.4M, 32%), General Atomics ($5.0M, 14%).

> R-3 exhibit contract funding, not USAspending obligations.

## Mission & acquisition strategy

Project 3448 - MALE RDTE is pursuing the design, development, integration and testing of MQ-9A mission (payloads/sensors) and mission enabler capabilities. These capabilities will support the MALE program's electronic warfare, Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA), tactical edge automation, and airborne network support missions, consisting of the Common Computing Environment (CCE) architecture which includes the Common Operating and Intelligence Picture (COP/CIP), Detect and Avoid System (DAAS), Airborne Network Extension (ANE), Electronic Support development, integration and testing.

The MALE sensor acquisition strategy leverages existing developmental programs with mature technology readiness level (TRL) Airborne Network Extension (ANE)/ SkyTower II, Electronic Warfare (EW), and Detect And Avoid System (DAAS) capabilities for transition and integration on the MQ-9A UAS. The MALE capabilities (payloads/sensor) acquisition strategy uses organic government resources, competitive and sole-source contract awards, and assisted acquisition approaches, Middle Tier Acquisition and Other Transaction Agreements to develop, integrate, and acquire the discrete capabilities.

## Related program elements

- [0605235A — Strategic Mid-Range Capability](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0605235A) (Army)
- [1208248SF — Space Domain Awareness/Planning/Tasking SW](https://hitchintel.com/programs/1208248SF) (Space Force)
- [0605229F — HH-60W](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0605229F) (Air Force)
- [0304240M — Advanced Tactical Unmanned Aircraft System](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0304240M) (Navy)

## Source & machine access

- **Source:** FY2027 Department of the Navy RDT&E Budget Justification, Exhibits R-2/R-3, PE 0603128N (PB PB2027); FY2027 NDAA committee marks (as of 2026-07-27).
- **MCP:** `mcp.hitchintel.com` — `budget_get_program_element(pe="0603128N")`.

*HitchAI is an independent intelligence service, not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Defense. Budget figures are requests/estimates, not obligations.*