Air Launched Effects Advanced Technology
This project develops and demonstrates the ability to launch an Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) from a manned or unmanned Future Vertical Lift (FVL) aircraft at tactical altitudes and to control the UAS from the cockpit or a crew station; and assesses the enabled capabilities and determine their relevance to current Army Aviation engagement and survivability portfolios. Work in this PE contributes to the Army Science and Technology (S&T) air systems portfolio and is fully coordinated with efforts in PE 0603465A (Future Vertical Lift Advanced Technology), PE 0603043A (Air Platform Advanced Technology),PE 0603345A (Unmanned Aerial Systems Launched Effects Advanced Technology Development), and PE 0602345A (Unmanned Aerial Systems Launched Effects Applied Research) / Projects A41 and A42. Work in this project is performed by the Aviation & Missile Center (AvMC).
FY2027 planned work Will further mature and demonstrate enhanced mission systems and system-level hardening efforts to align with LE A-CDD requirements; integrate and demonstrate modular air vehicle concepts that incorporate payloads, propulsion and mission system components for air and ground launched effects operations in long-range littoral missions.
FY2026 to FY2027 change Funding decrease reflects adjustments in prioritization. Resources reallocated to focus on critical areas, including system level hardening and operations in long-range missions, while ensuring continued support for essential UAS demonstrations.
FY2026 plans — current year Will mature enhanced mission systems and system hardening efforts to align with LE A-CDD requirements; integrate and demonstrate initial modular air vehicle concepts that incorporate payloads and mission systems equipment for air and ground launched effects operations in long-range littoral and urban-fringe missions.
FY2027 planned work Will mature and demonstrate initial mixed AI and non-AI component behaviors integrated into an autonomy suite utilizing the established MOSA architecture to enable UAS team-of-teams ecosystem operations in contested, complex littoral environments within denied environment; continue to mature, through modeling and simulation and small-scale flight testing, novel autonomy and teaming technologies that build in behavior resilience to dynamically adjust to battlefield situational awareness, component failures and enhance contingency management for extended duration operations with no human intervention required.
FY2026 to FY2027 change Funding increase reflects realignment from PE 0603456A (Future Vertical Lift Advanced Technology) / Project AL1 (Adv Teaming for Tactical Aviation Oper Adv Tech)
FY2027 planned work Will mature and demonstrate bi-static and distributed radar automatic target recognition (ATR) modes such as bi-static synthetic aperture radar (SAR) and ground moving target indication (GMTI) suitable for UAS and launched effect relevant flight profiles; validate requirements and evaluate mode performance via simulation in laboratory environment.
FY2026 to FY2027 change Funding increase reflects realignment from Program Element (PE) 0603465A / Future Vertical Lift Advanced Technology / Project CC4 (FVL Radar Advanced Technologies)
Will validate performance of novel optical components for increased EO/IR target detection, recognition, and identification performance and validate requirements; mature UAS/LE payload featuring novel optics to extend range performance of EO/IR sensing for military applications; complete baseline EO/IR prototype payload designs…
Read the FY2027 plan →