# University Consortium for Applied Hypersonics (UCAH)

**R-2A activity** of project 066 — Joint Hypersonic Transition Office (JHTO)  
**Program element:** 0603183D8Z — Joint Hypersonic Technology Development & Transition  
**Component:** Defense-Wide · **Budget Activity:** 3  
**Vintage:** President's Budget PB2027  
**Canonical URL:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/0603183D8Z/066/a0  
**Parent:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/0603183D8Z

## Summary

This activity requests $37.5M in FY2027, 8.8% of project 066, up 71% on FY2026. The R-2A exhibit describes it across FY2025–FY2027, including what the FY2027 money is planned to buy.

## What the FY2027 request buys

**FY2027 planned work.** FY 2027 base plans for the UCAH continues the path identified in the S&T roadmap and continues efforts towards flight experimentation for promising technologies. These funds will support projects selected from the FY 2026 UCAH project solicitation and continue those started in FY 2024, FY 2025, and FY 2026. Technologies will be matured and demonstrated in the areas of air breathing propulsion test capabilities, air breathing propulsion digital twin architectures, collaborative communications and networking, additive manufactured material properties, endothermic fuel applications, ceramic materials for reusable vehicles, and optics testing for sensor and seeker windows.

**FY2026 to FY2027 change.** The increase of $15.579 million between FY 2026 and FY 2027 reflects funding towards flight test experimentation in support of the FY 2025 Grand Challenge project, application of existing technology developments toward more complex problems at higher classification levels, and increased consortium management costs.

## Before the request year

**FY2026 plans — current year.** FY 2026 base plans for the UCAH continues the path identified in the S&T roadmap and pursues flight experimentation for promising technologies. Projects include continuation of those started in FY 2023 and FY 2024, as well as new projects selected in FY 2025 through the annual UCAH project solicitation. In FY 2026, new research will explore advanced aerodynamics, novel propulsion systems, integration materials, high-speed aero-optics and non-kinetic interactions.

**FY2025 accomplishments.** FY 2025 base plans for the UCAH are a continuation of the path identified in the S&T roadmap for FY 2024. UCAH will continue to execute research projects through the Consortium; in addition, the scope of the projects will be increased to focus more on workforce development and applied research as identified by the S&T roadmap.

## Funding

| Fiscal Year | Estimate Type | Amount ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | Actual | 27.1 |
| FY2026 | Enacted | 21.9 |
| FY2027 | Request | 37.5 |

> 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 066

- [Science & Technology Acceleration Projects](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0603183D8Z/066/a9) — FY2027 284.1
- Munitions - Affordable Hypersonic Boost Glide Development (U) — FY2027 87.0
- [Workforce Development Projects](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0603183D8Z/066/a8) — FY2027 15.9
- Navigation, Guidance and Controls (NGC) Science and Technology (S&T) Development — FY2027 —
- Propulsion Science and Technology (S&T) Development — FY2027 —
- Systems Engineering, Design and Analysis (SEDA) Science and Technology (S&T) Development — FY2027 —
- Materials, Structures and Manufacturing (MSM) Science and Technology (S&T) Development — FY2027 —
- Ordnance Science and Technology (S&T) Development — FY2027 —
- Aerodynamics and Aerothermodynamics Science and Technology (S&T) Development — FY2027 —
- Joint Hypersonics Transition Office (JHTO) Systems Engineering Field Activity at Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane Division (NSWC Crane) — FY2027 —

## Source & machine access

- **Source:** FY2027 Office of the Secretary of Defense RDT&E Budget Justification, Exhibit R-2A, PE 0603183D8Z project 066 (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.*