What project DAT-01 buys
The Advanced Systems project will create enabling technologies for seamless all domain operations, from strategic planning to tactical and urban operations. All Domain Warfare Systems leverage current and emerging network, robotic, and information technology and provide next generation U.S. forces with greatly increased capability, lethality, and rapid responsiveness. Critical issues facing this project are: (1) U.S. opponents using systems that are flexible, robust, and difficult to neutralize; and (2) U.S. doctrine that limits the use of firepower to lessen the impact of operations on noncombatants. Meeting these challenges places a heavy burden on joint war planning. Understanding opponent networks is essential so that creative options can be developed to counter their strategies. Synchronization of air, sea, space, and ground operations to apply force only where needed and with specific effects is required. This project supports all levels of the force structure including: (1) the strategic/operational level by generating targeting options against opponents' centers of gravity that have complex networked relationships; (2) the tactical/operational level by managing highly automated forces with tight coupling between air, seas, space, and ground platforms; and (3) the focused tactical level by developing platforms and tools, which acquire targets of opportunity and cue network-based analysis of likely enemy operations. Prior to FY 2026, efforts in this Project were funded in PE 0603766E, Projects NET-01 and NET-02, and PE 0603739E, Project MT-15.
Project DAT-01 funding, FY2025–FY2031
Prior years are actuals, the budget year is the request, and the outyears are the FYDP plan. Estimate types are colored and never summed into one figure. Projects carry the full five-year plan; the activities inside them stop at the budget year.
| Fiscal Year | Estimate Type | Amount ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | Actual | 0.0 |
| FY2026 | Enacted | 357.5 |
| FY2027 | Request | 407.3 |
| FY2028 | Outyear | 341.2 |
| FY2029 | Outyear | 586.1 |
| FY2030 | Outyear | 682.4 |
| FY2031 | Outyear | 696.0 |
16 accomplishments / planned programs
The R-2A exhibit — the only level of the budget that describes work that has not happened yet. Activities carry the prior, current and budget year only, no five-year plan. 6 of them describe FY2027 work in enough detail to have their own page; the rest are shown here in full. Coverage is partial across the corpus, so count activities, never total them.
- Initiate research approaches to acquiring new defense systems, including disrupting systems engineering and reimaging test and certification. - Develop new design approaches to make manufacturable designs or to dramatically reduce human engineering effort. - Develop new approaches to fabrication that enable rapid start-up, reduced…
Read the FY2027 plan →- Execute Critical Design Review (CDR) for larger scale demonstrator vehicle. - Purchase materials for manufacturing of the larger scale demonstrator vehicle. - Continue to test software control system for demonstrator. - Continue to update the software control system for demonstrator. - Continue manufacture of the demonstrator vehicle…
Read the FY2027 plan →FY2027 planned work - Complete communications architecture and vehicle sizing studies. - Initiate host platform fabrication and evaluation. - Conduct payload integration and ground qualification testing. - Demonstrate payload functionality in a representative environment.
FY2026 to FY2027 change The FY 2027 increase reflects the shift from platform and payload design to fabrication and integration activities.
FY2026 plans — current year - Initiate communications architecture and vehicle sizing studies.
- Continue prevention activities addressing problematic foreign investment in strategic DARPA-funded technologies. - Continue to accelerate transition of disruptive DARPA technologies to the warfighter and other USG entities. - Continue to address market inefficiencies that prevent DARPA-funded technologies from transitioning to the…
Read the FY2027 plan →- Evaluate long duration subscale component performance. - Execute performer-based incremental test plan to demonstrate approach viability. - Conduct graded component evaluations to demonstrate progress towards critical technical challenges. - Integrate viable components into full system. - Demonstrate system capability in controlled…
Read the FY2027 plan →- Conduct a series of Capstone Test Events with transition Stakeholders. - Complete validation of the bulk prototype process and provide Lots to transition partners.
Read the FY2027 plan →- Conduct Overwatch demonstration for the sensing and sensemaking components. - Conduct design review for Platform Transition to production. - Initiate construction of platforms with sensing and sensemaking system and conduct interoperability test.
Read the FY2027 plan →FY2027 planned work - Conduct testing of prototype pressure vessels. - Complete designs for integration of AUV components and subsystems within pressure vessels.
FY2026 to FY2027 change The FY 2027 increase reflects a shift from design and fabrication to integration and testing.
FY2026 plans — current year - Initiate foundational pressure vessel prototype design and fabrication.
FY2027 planned work - Expand use of the systems dynamics modeling environment to simulate the effects of regulatory changes, policy flexibilities, and capital interventions on production ramp timelines. - Continue technical exchanges and simulations to validate and refine the systems level model of the industrial base with cross-sector stakeholders.
FY2026 plans — current year - Continue development of a systems of systems level model of the U.S. defense industrial base, focused on key sectors using systems dynamics modeling. - Conduct technical exchange forums with industry, DoW, and interagency partners to validate modeling assumptions and co-design industrial incentives.
FY2027 planned work - Collaborate with Department of War stakeholders to transition technologies to critical supply and demand network domains.
FY2026 plans — current year - Optimize forward and backward stress-testing capabilities for high priority use cases.
FY2027 planned work - Demonstrate full system integration in operational demonstration with transition partners.
FY2026 to FY2027 change The FY 2027 decrease reflects a shift from integration and initial testing to conducting a final operational demonstration with transition partners.
FY2026 plans — current year - Continue research and design of initial semantically correct user data, application, and network reduction technologies. - Conduct data collection and analysis. - Conduct laboratory and exercise experimentation to validate support to service operations. - Integrate data plane reduction technologies into transition partner applications of interest. - Continue integration into existing Service-specific systems.
FY2026 to FY2027 change The FY 2027 decrease reflects program completion.
FY2026 plans — current year - Complete integration and testing of Goblin payloads. - Conduct final at-sea technology demonstration of the full Goblin system in support of transition objectives. - Deliver the Goblin system to the Navy for further maturation and fielding.
FY2026 to FY2027 change The FY 2027 decrease reflects program completion.
FY2026 plans — current year - Complete at-sea demonstrations.
FY2026 to FY2027 change The FY 2027 decrease reflects program completion.
FY2026 plans — current year - Conduct risk reduction activities supporting development of demonstrator systems. - Perform trade studies for system integration and deployment. - Procure components and assemble demonstrator systems. - Conduct in-water engineering tests of critical hardware components.
FY2026 to FY2027 change The FY 2027 decrease reflects program completion.
FY2026 plans — current year - Conduct capabilities testing for underwater printing of simple structures in laboratory settings.
FY2026 to FY2027 change The FY 2027 decrease reflects program completion.
FY2026 plans — current year - Continue IV&V activities to verify performer updates to simulations, hardware and waveforms based on lessons learned. - Conduct Final Design Review of acoustic systems and other technologies prior to at-sea demonstration. - Conduct at-sea demonstration with prototype integrated system. - Conduct interim in-water assessment of updated system design to verify additional capabilities. - Conduct final at-sea demonstration with updated systems. - Coordinate with Navy partners to enable system transition.