Future Vertical Lift Advanced Technology

Will improve threat warning performance through continued multi spectral sensing data collections; demonstrate multispectral sensor in urban environments; optimize and ruggedize flight sensor; demonstrate interim capabilities of a multi-function sensor compared to current fleet baseline.

Will demonstrate autonomous team-of-teams synchronized operations across domains to facilitate an integrated air defense system (IADS) breach capability in contested conditions; initiate extension of Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) architecture to address unique challenges associated with operations in complex urban / fringe and…

Will validate appropriate payload volume and weight constraints versus stabilization and range performance for SWaP-C constrained unmanned aerial system (UAS) and launched effects platforms; mature scalable, novel optics and optical bench components to optimize performance while reducing SWaP-C; validate design trades utilizing…

Will demonstrate component Helmet Mounted Display (HMD) and head tracker technology linked to degraded visual environment sensors in militarily relevant environments. Will begin validation of performance against requirements associated with MV-75 Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) and UH-60M Black Hawk modernization via novel…

FY2025 accomplishments Will mature RF threat defeat techniques and technique description framework to enable portability of techniques; improve low SWAP-C payload and implement threat defeat techniques in payload hardware; validate projected performance of integrated payload with advanced algorithms and techniques; demonstrate team-based behaviors of multiple RF payloads with increased range, capability, and probability of threat defeat in laboratory.

FY2026 to FY2027 change Funding decrease reflects completion of this effort.

FY2026 plans — current year Will integrate survivability planning algorithms and technologies into manned and unmanned test platforms; conduct flight demonstration of team-based survivability planning algorithms and behaviors to include multi-aircraft terrain flight optimization, multi-ship re-routes, and optimized counter measures; conduct flight demonstrations for abbreviated validation assessments of modeling and simulation tools.

FY2025 accomplishments Will begin integration if microclimatology algorithms into the Survivability Correlator software in the loop (SIL) environment; perform SIL integration team-based survivability behaviors and begin component technologies demonstrations; begin integration of improved durability RF materials and Electro-Optical/ Infrared coatings onto demonstration platform(s); perform integration and flight test demonstration of unmanned arial systems survivability component technologies.

FY2027 planned work Will begin maturation, optimization, and demonstration of survivability focused algorithms and technologies into manned and unmanned test platforms; conduct SIL based and/or small-scale flight demonstrations of team-based survivability algorithms and behaviors which may include multi-aircraft terrain flight optimization, multi-ship re-routers, and optimized counter measures; conduct flight demonstrations for abbreviated validation assessments of modeling and simulation tools.

FY2026 to FY2027 change Funding increase reflects the initiation of this effort. Funding will be used to conduct flight demonstrations for abbreviated validation assessments of modeling and simulation tools.

FY2027 planned work Will perform a ground launched long range system level demonstration to validate system performance in a relevant environment; demonstrate advanced propulsion system, data link system, autonomous acquisition & tracking, and lethal mechanism components.

FY2026 to FY2027 change Funding increase reflects demonstration and validation of system performance efforts.

FY2026 plans — current year Will perform missile test bed system evaluation runs to improve autonomous algorithm performance, maneuverability, lethality, and platform survivability in degraded/contested environments; perform detailed design and integration of the next generation / high payoff multimode (solid rocket propulsion integrated with turbojet engine) propulsion system to potentially provide even greater range in same form factor.

FY2025 accomplishments Will mature critical missile sensor components, demonstrate, and optimize sensor component data during system level demonstration to verify system performance in relevant environment to include degraded and contested environments; mature, demonstrate, and validate missile test bed capability with data collected from relevant environment; demonstrate the advanced propulsion system to verify increased range and speed with desired trajectory for effectiveness and survivability.

FY2027 planned work Develop and assess Aircrew Conditioning Program to mitigate flight-related neck and back pain in aviators. Develop whole body injury criteria for vertical as well as frontal acceleration expected in future aircraft crash environment.

FY2026 to FY2027 change Funding increase is an economic adjustment.

FY2026 plans — current year Continue to develop and evaluate an Aircrew Spine Conditioning and Resiliency Program to reduce the incidence and magnitude of back and neck pain associated with rotary-wing aviation operational environments. Start research to determine the best metrics to assess deficits in performance resulting from prolonged head-supported mass (HSM) exposure while on the multi-axis ride simulator (MARS).

FY2025 accomplishments Develop injury criteria for whole-body response to vertical and frontal acceleration. Validate human factor, efficacy and flight compatibility of US Army aviation life support equipment. Validate impacts of trust on aircrew workload and performance under stress. Validate spatial audio display design guidelines to enhance pilot radio communication capabilities for Future Vertical Lift. Assess/validate torso harness restraint system performance. Efforts in this task further develop work done in Program Element 0602148A, Project BZ7.

Will mature and demonstrate information portrayal and related data management capabilities, advanced communication management and situation awareness capabilities, and design and prepare for lab demonstrations in FY26 in support of Army Aviator mission task performance.

Will mature and demonstrate effects of intelligent agents and virtual crewmember to enhance aircrew decision-making, situational awareness, and dynamic information management; mature technologies for performance-based crew workload measurement and task automation, demonstrate impact of advanced technologies to enhance Soldier performance…

Will develop dynamic mission planning technologies for real-time, in-flight adaptation while providing updates to imported pre- mission data products; enhance machine agents for effective, onboard information synthesis and decision support for the aircrew, incorporating mission and aircraft performance data, to include handling and…

FY2026 to FY2027 change Funding decrease reflects the strategic reallocation of resources to support evolving priorities and objectives.

FY2026 plans — current year Will continue development of dynamic software capabilities and approaches; begin to exploit the processes and methodologies for continuously developing and deploying dynamic software.

FY2025 accomplishments Begin development of reconfigurable software capabilities by leveraging results from Future Avionics Implementation Research (FAIR) and specifying reconfigurable approaches, implementing recurring technology identified by stakeholders and exploring how they can be used in more efficient ways to promote reuse through reconfiguration; continue to explore RMS concepts including but not limited to Dynamic Software Architecture, or dynamic software updating; investigate approaches for scalability in time, space, and resources; investigate agility in computing processes; develop adaptive security methods and further investigate cybersecurity techniques with S3I Lab integration and testing.

FY2026 to FY2027 change In FY 2026, this effort is completed

FY2026 plans — current year Will mature and integrate scaled/optimized Aided Target Detection and Recognition (AiTD/R) into payloads for small to medium sized UAS platforms; demonstrate improved AiTD/R performance scaled for UAS application on a surrogate UAS platform against militarily relevant targets. Will provide sensor and processing hardware recommendations and trained baseline AiTD/R algorithms for various UAS Concept of Operations (CONOPS).

FY2025 accomplishments Will provide updated baseline sensor architecture specifications for steerable turret with dual-band infrared sensor paired with novel compact long-range optical components; optimize performance of improved multi-band fused Aided Target Detection and Recognition (AiTD/R) approaches; demonstrate Aided Target Detection/Recognition (AiTD/R) with long range optics and improved performance against military and Camouflage, Concealment, and Deception (CC&D) targets in relevant environments, to include DVE; optimize AiTD/R hardware processing solution design in support of FUAS aircraft.