# Unmanned Aerial Systems Launched Effects Advanced Technology Development — Program Element 0603345A

**Program element:** 0603345A  
**Component:** U.S. Army  
**Appropriation:** 2040 — RDT&E, Army  
**Budget Activity:** 3 — Advanced Technology Development  
**Vintage:** President's Budget PB2027  
**Canonical URL:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/0603345A

## Summary

U.S. Army funding ramps 138% to a $33.1M request in FY2027, sustained across the five-year plan. In the FY2027 defense authorization, the House funded it in full; the Senate funded it in full; House appropriators funded it in full.

## Funding profile

| Fiscal Year | Estimate Type | Amount ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | Actual | 0.0 |
| FY2026 | Enacted | 13.9 |
| FY2027 | Request | 33.1 |
| FY2028 | Outyear | 43.9 |
| FY2029 | Outyear | 45.6 |
| FY2030 | Outyear | 45.2 |
| FY2031 | Outyear | 45.5 |

> 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 | 33.1 | — |
| House NDAA (HASC) | 33.1 | +0.0 |
| Senate NDAA (SASC) | 33.1 | +0.0 |
| House Approps (HAC-D) | 33.1 | +0.0 |

> 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A45 | Air Launched Effects Advanced Technology | — | 13.9 | 33.1 | +138% |

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

### Project A45 — 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).

| Activity (R-2A) | FY2025 | FY2026 | FY2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Versatile Launched Effects (VLE) Demonstration | — | 13.9 | 8.7 |
| Complex Advanced Teaming Operations | — | — | 7.2 |
| Advanced RF Multi-Function ALE Payloads | — | — | 3.9 |
| Advanced Payloads & Automated Targeting for UAS and Launched Effects (LE) | — | — | 13.4 |

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

## Mission & acquisition strategy

This PE matures and demonstrates uncrewed air vehicles and mission system technologies as well as advanced teaming capabilities to enable unmanned aerial system modernization. Emphasis is on developing aviation platform and mission system technologies to enhance uncrewed air vehicle combat and combat support operations for attack, reconnaissance, air assault, survivability, logistics, and command and control missions. The PE will fund civilian salaries for in-house researchers/scientists and program managers.

## Related program elements

- [0602345A — Unmanned Aerial Systems Launched Effects Applied Research](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0602345A) (Army)
- [0603465A — Future Vertical Lift Advanced Technology](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0603465A) (Army)
- [0602861N — Science & Tech Management - ONR Field Acts](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0602861N) (Navy)
- [0207147F — Collaborative Combat Aircraft](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0207147F) (Air Force)

## Source & machine access

- **Source:** FY2027 Department of the Army RDT&E Budget Justification, Exhibits R-2/R-3, PE 0603345A (PB PB2027); FY2027 NDAA committee marks (as of 2026-07-27).
- **MCP:** `mcp.hitchintel.com` — `budget_get_program_element(pe="0603345A")`.

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