# Aeroshell Technologies

**R-2A activity** of project 634094 — Next Gen Platform Dev/Demo  
**Program element:** 0603273F — Next Gen Platform Dev/Demo  
**Component:** U.S. Air Force · **Budget Activity:** 3  
**Vintage:** President's Budget PB2027  
**Canonical URL:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/0603273F/634094/a0  
**Parent:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/0603273F

## Summary

This activity requests $96.6M in FY2027, 58% of project 634094, up 43% 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 developing enhanced aeroshell modeling computational tools to simulate nuclear re-entry system environments, which will in turn support evolving GRD testing capabilities. This work relies on foundational computational efforts within PE 0602336F, Nuclear Delivery Systems Tech Exploration. - Continue the coupling of software and hardware developments for near-future GRD ground testing data validation. - Continue the computational characterization of nuclear re-entry system environments and update existing integrated solvers for enhanced analyses. Enhancements will include advanced physics-based re-entry characterization algorithms that will decrease computational expense, thus optimizing simulation and computation times. - Continue laboratory experiment code validation to improve confidence in nuclear re-entry system environmental predictions. - Continue procuring material samples and conducting laboratory experiments to systematically inform and supplement existing nuclear re-entry system materials databases. - Continue the progressive identification of requirements and conduct design trade studies to support the development of high lateral acceleration (high-g) and boost glide Government Reference Design (GRD) platforms. - Continue manufacturing process trade studies and analyses, as well as model-based systems engineering, for risk reduction in future GRD engineering developments. - Continue identifying environmental requirements for component design and integration into multiple-use future launch platforms. - Continue test-bed design trade studies and modifications, including instrumentation options for future flight characterizations and analyses. - Continue design trade studies for graduated test-bed designs and modifications, including evaluation of instrumentation options for future flight characterization and analyses requirements. - Continue trade studies for novel material fabrication processes for delivery platform nose tips, leading edges, and control surfaces. - Continue the acquisition of long-lead items, including additional Thermal Protection Systems, for the preliminary construction of long-glide and high lateral acceleration (high-g) Government Reference Vehicles (GRV). - Continue risk reduction launch systems demonstration flights. - Complete planning for a combined environment effects test campaign to evaluate materials performance in relevant combined environments. - Complete investigating sourcing options for external aeroshell materials and high temperature GRD components. - Complete the initial acquisition of a long-lead Thermal Protection System, for foundational construction of long-glide and high lateral acceleration (high-g) GRVs. - Complete the initial acquisition of a long-lead Thermal Protection System for a boost-glide GRV. - Complete computational material requirements studies to predict combined environment effects. - Commence integration of payloads into initial GRD aeroshell.

**FY2026 to FY2027 change.** This effort increases by $29.222 million from FY 2026 to FY 2027 to support the increased development and procurement of materials for multiple designs of the high lateral acceleration (high-g) and boost glide GRDs. Growing requirements dictate the need for three delivery vehicles for each GRD in order to meet strategic re-entry environment requirements outlined in the twenty-five (25)-year roadmap jointly developed between the DAF and the U.S. Navy, in accordance with strategic guidance provided by the Office of the Undersecretary of War (OUSW) for Research and Engineering (R&E) in FY 2023.

## Before the request year

**FY2026 plans — current year.** - Continue developing enhanced aeroshell modeling computational tools to simulate nuclear re-entry system environments, which in turn will support evolving Government Reference Design (GRD) testing capabilities. This work relies on foundational computational efforts within PE 0602336F, Nuclear Delivery Systems Tech Exploration. - Continue the coupling of software and hardware outputs for near-future GRD ground testing data validation. - Continue the computational characterization of nuclear re-entry system environments and update existing integrated solvers for enhanced analyses. Enhancements will include advanced physics-based re-entry characterization algorithms that will decrease computational expense, thus optimizing simulation and computation times. - Continue laboratory experiment code validation to improve confidence in nuclear re-entry system environmental predictions. - Continue procuring material samples and conducting laboratory experiments to systematically inform and supplement existing nuclear re-entry system materials databases. - Continue computational material requirements studies to predict combined environmental effects on prospective nuclear re-entry system materials. - Continue planning for a combined environment effects test campaign to evaluate materials performance in relevant combined environments. - Continue the progressive identification of requirements and conduct design trade studies to support the development of high lateral acceleration (high-g) and boost glide Government Reference Design (GRD) platforms. - Continue manufacturing process trade studies and analyses, as well as model-based systems engineering, for risk reduction in future GRD engineering developments. - Continue investigating sourcing options for external aeroshell materials and high-temperature GRD components. - Continue identifying environmental requirements for component design and integration into multiple-use future launch platforms. - Continue test-bed design trade studies and modifications, including instrumentation options for future flight characterizations and analyses. - Complete the initial long-glide GRD and begin constructing the program's first GRV for near-future flight experiments. - Commence design trade studies for graduated test-bed designs and modifications, including evaluation of instrumentation options for future flight characterization and analyses requirements. - Commence trade studies for novel material fabrication processes for delivery platform nose tips, leading edges, and control surfaces. - Commence the acquisition of long-lead items, including Thermal Protection Systems, for the preliminary construction of long-glide and high lateral acceleration (high-g) Government Reference Vehicles (GRV). - Commence delivery of a representative mass mock of the long-glide GRD for risk-reduction launch system demonstration flight.

## Funding

| Fiscal Year | Estimate Type | Amount ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | Actual | 56.9 |
| FY2026 | Enacted | 67.3 |
| FY2027 | Request | 96.6 |

> 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 634094

- [Integration, Experimentation, and Evaluation Solutions](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0603273F/634094/a3) — FY2027 37.6
- [Advanced Guidance, Navigation and Control (GNC) Technologies](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0603273F/634094/a2) — FY2027 25.0
- Advanced Fuzing Technologies — FY2027 6.8

## Source & machine access

- **Source:** FY2027 Department of the Air Force RDT&E Budget Justification, Exhibit R-2A, PE 0603273F project 634094 (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.*