# Manned and Autonomous Teams (MATes)

**R-2A activity** of project 2966 — S&T Campaigns  
**Program element:** 0603673N — Future Naval Capabilities Advanced Tech Dev  
**Component:** U.S. Navy · **Budget Activity:** 3  
**Vintage:** President's Budget PB2027  
**Canonical URL:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/0603673N/2966/a4  
**Parent:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/0603673N/2966

## Summary

This activity requests $13.5M in FY2027, 10.0% of project 2966, down 2.9% 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.** Complete the MATES INP: - Completing autonomy, perception, and command and control (C2) concepts for MATES conducting complex multi-domain operations in proximity to each other along a spectrum of missions. - Completing demonstration of multiple autonomy architectures across multiple domains conducting re-optimizing behaviors based on changing mission parameters and perception data. - Completing experiments to validate command and control with different levels of human oversight and trust. - Completing experiments to sequentially "phase" C2 of massed Super Swarm agents from close-in, dense, tightly controlled areas with continuous network coverage out to the maximum range where fully autonomous behavior is expected. - Completing experiments to test Super Swarm (PRJ 3459) agents in scenarios requiring AI-enabled perception of current manned blue teammate behavior states, derivation of anticipated future states, and evaluation of potential reactions to state changes.

**FY2026 to FY2027 change.** There is no significant change in funding from FY 2026 to FY 2027.

## Before the request year

**FY2026 plans — current year.** Continue the MATes INP by continuing all activities from FY25 to include those focused on: - Autonomy, perception, and command and control (C2) concepts for Manned and Autonomous Teams (MATES) conducting complex multi-domain operations in proximity to each other along a spectrum of missions. Missions range from fully autonomous to highly supervised requiring an agile optimization as real-world factors change. - Autonomy, perception, and command and control (C2) concepts for MATES conducting complex multi-domain operations in proximity to each other along a spectrum of missions. - Demonstration of multiple autonomy architectures across multiple domains conducting re-optimizing behaviors based on changing mission parameters and perception data. Agents will be Super Swarm (PRJ 3459) agents, and efforts will mutually inform tactical behavior, perception, and autonomy schemas. - Experiments to validate command and control with different levels of human oversight and trust. Initiate new following new tasks: - Experiments to sequentially "phase" C2 of massed Super Swarm agents from close-in, dense, tightly controlled areas with continuous network coverage out to the maximum range where fully autonomous behavior is expected. - Experiments to test Super Swarm (PRJ 3459) agents in scenarios requiring AI-enabled perception of current manned blue teammate behavior states, derivation of anticipated future states, and evaluation of potential reactions to state changes.

## Funding

| Fiscal Year | Estimate Type | Amount ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | Actual | 0.0 |
| FY2026 | Enacted | 13.9 |
| FY2027 | Request | 13.5 |

> 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 2966

- [Chimera](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0603673N/2966/a5) — FY2027 45.5
- [FLight Advancement of Structures for Hypersonics (FLASH)](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0603673N/2966/a7) — FY2027 27.7
- [Full Spectrum Undersea Warfare (FSUSW)](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0603673N/2966/a1) — FY2027 16.8
- [Precision Fire Control (PFC)](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0603673N/2966/a6) — FY2027 15.1
- Deployment & Employment of Autonomous Long-Range Systems (DEALRS) — FY2027 7.7
- Bright Eyes — FY2027 5.9
- METEOR — FY2027 2.6
- Long Range Targeting (LRT) — FY2027 0.0
- Joint Laser Weapon System Science & Technology (JLWS-ST) — FY2027 0.0

## Source & machine access

- **Source:** FY2027 Department of the Navy RDT&E Budget Justification, Exhibit R-2A, PE 0603673N project 2966 (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.*