What the FY2027 request buys
Verbatim from the R-2A exhibit for project IBA of PE 0603680S. This is the budget justification's own description of work that has not happened yet — the one thing no other level of the budget carries.
The SUBNET program will build upon previous successes by championing R&D projects focused on creating a more resilient, intelligent, and sustainable subsistence supply chain for the Warfighter. The plan will pivot towards next-generation solutions that ensure operational dominance in contested environments and enhance/ensure food safety, quality, and security. Key initiatives will include the development of advanced data analytics and logistics technologies to improve demand forecasting and optimize resupply operations in anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) environments, directly addressing future "push logistics" and continuity of operations (COOP) requirements. The program will also explore research into innovations in Class I sustainment, exploring novel food production/processing methods and ration components designed to meet the unique Warfighter mission requirements. Building on sustainability efforts, SUBNET will further investigate advanced packaging solutions to reduce waste and ensure food safety and develop improved systems for waste management and resource utilization in operational settings. Finally, the program will invest in next-generation water security, focusing on innovative water sourcing and purification technologies to counter emerging threats, ensuring the foundational elements of Warfighter readiness are secure and technologically superior. The CASTING program will continue to execute and monitor research projects aiming to alleviate problems in the procurement and the manufacture of DoW weapon system parts. The program will continue work towards completing current, and plan for future projects critical to the warfighter and the casting industrial base. The current projects thrust include design tools for manufacturing such as cost modeling and simulation. Process improvements such as light weighting, smart machines and manufacturing, automation and robotics, sustainability, and workforce development. We will continue to work with the services, metal casting industry, industry associations, and leading research universities to plan for future development in areas that include hybrid cast materials, enhanced alloys, sustainable substitutes, die materials, furnace refractory coatings and digital threat integration and implementation. The FORGING program will continue to monitor and execute projects that focus on the problems in the procurement and manufacturing of DoW weapon system parts that contain forged components. The program will continue to work on topics that include new, alternate or improved alloys and die materials, die repair methods and lubrication, robotics, automation and sensors, workforce development and training resources for current and future employees, die materials and manufacturing. These projects and topics will be aligned with the needs of the DLA and the DoW aimed at supporting and fulfilling the needs of the warfighter and the forging industrial base. The Battery Network (BATTNET) program will continue to execute projects for improving the production readiness, transition, and standardization of soldier and system batteries within the DLA supply chain. Projects will leverage new battery manufacturing technologies for the supply chain that have been developed by industry – advanced electrodes production, low-cost materials production or recycling, and advanced performance cells. The program intends to leverage deep-discharge, long cycle life, low temperature, and safe lithium-ion capabilities with the US Military Services to replace obsolete nickel-cadmium and lead-acid batteries in naval and aviation systems. The program intends on addressing manufacturing gaps and material supply risks to enhance supply sustainment. The Additive Manufacturing (AM) program’s main focus is to operationalize the manufacturing capability of the DLA enterprise in support of DoW along with its Advanced Manufacturing applications, leveraging its innovations to directly enhance readiness. The program will optimize the Joint Additive Manufacturing Acceptability (JAMA) framework, transforming it into a robust manufacturing platform that directly supports enhanced warfighter readiness and strengthens DLA's agile supply chain capabilities. By modernizing the DLA AM Ecosystem to improve process visibility and enable seamless collaboration, the program will unlock broader DoW AM adoption. Furthermore, by championing the development of sustainable AM feedstock using reclaimed materials, the program will position DLA as a leader in resource efficiency and contribute to a more resilient defense posture for OSD. These strategic initiatives will forge a resilient, cost-effective, and sustainable AM program, fully aligned with the strategic objectives of both DLA and OSD, delivering tangible and measurable impact to the warfighter and the DoW enterprise. The AME program will continue to develop its long-term technology roadmap. It will also continue planning for the specific emulation technology implementations to support specific device family groups in consonance with Customer and Agency requirements. AME will continue to develop an additive manufacturing capability for obsolete ceramic microcircuit cases and will continue its radiation hardened analog process development. The AME Program will continue the project to address obsolete Analog Switches, which have been identified as an emerging issue. AME will also begin a new project to address obsolete Voltage Comparators and Voltage References which are the next priority on its Technology Roadmap. The SM program will continue to examine the requirements for research of materials and alloys, development of solutions with cost-efficient production, substitution, domestic qualification, and/or recycling to restore and stabilize strategic and critical materials supply chains that have been compromised by decreased or abandoned domestic production activities or lack of domestic reserves within the United States.
Slight increase due to inflation adjustment
FY2025–FY2026: what came before
Prior-year accomplishments and current-year plans from the same exhibit. Context for the FY2027 plan, not a series — an activity partitions its project exactly in the request year, but can under-cover it in earlier years.
The SUBNET program will continue to champion R&D projects that advance the safety, quality, and security of food and water provided to Warfighters. Planned initiatives include improving subsistence visibility with barcode scanning enhancement and OPRATS expansion, developing compostable thermoformed meal bags, optimizing MRE pallet configurations, evaluating novel food sterilization methods, and implementing waste reduction technologies. The program will also address "push logistics" requirements for anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) environments, integrate robotics and automation into current processes, research alternatives to the standard flameless ration heater, and apply data analytics to improve the subsistence supply chain. Additionally, SUBNET will pursue new SBIR topics, including projects focused on extending the shelf-life of fresh fruits and vegetables. The CASTING program will continue to monitor and execute research projects aimed at alleviating problems in the procurement and the manufacture of DoW weapon system parts containing castings. The projects include design tools for manufacturing such as cost modeling and simulation. Process improvements such as light weighting, smart manufacturing and machines, automation and robotics, procurement resources and workforce development tools. We will work with the services, the industry associations, metal casting industry and leading research universities to identify and plan for future development in technology areas that include hybrid cast materials, enhanced alloys, sustainable substitutes, die materials, furnace refractory coatings and digital threat integration and implementation. The FORGING program will initiate work for projects executed under newly awarded contracts through a new BAA. These projects will include innovative forging technologies or manufacturing processes/technologies that significantly improve effectiveness, productivity, energy, or efficiency of making a forging or forged equivalent part and will be strategically aligned with the needs of the DLA and the DoW aimed at supporting and fulfilling the needs of the warfighter. We will continue to work with the services, the industry association and leading research universities to identify potential technology areas in need of development. The Battery Network (BATTNET) program awarded new projects for improving the production readiness, transition, and standardization of soldier, drone, and system batteries within the DLA supply chain, leveraging new battery manufacturing technologies. The program is supporting qualification tests for light-weight bipolar lead-acid batteries and safe lithium-ion versions of small system Navy UPS batteries. The program will expand and improve pilot domestic LVO, NMC, LFP materials manufacturing for emerging Defense industrial capabilities, cell manufacturing improvements for key DoW applications, and assist with addressing supply chain security and resilience issues for essential materials. The program will initiate additional SBIR Phase 2 projects for high performance, safe drone batteries, and advanced manufacturing for silicon anodes. DLA AM is targeting AM methods and Advanced Manufacturing applications to provide innovative solutions related to optimizing the efforts of JAMA for continued future planning and use throughout DoW along with agencies outside of DoW; Increasing the number of parts on the JAMA Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ), planning up to a minimum of 20 parts simultaneously in production, with the potential to increase that number to over 100 parts for the duration of the pilot. Applying Advance manufacturing strategies to modernize Weapon Support Aviation – IPE Industrial Plant Equipment. Industrial Maintenance center for improved repair times of equipment within the DoW enterprise. Developing sustainable AM feedstock materials from the DLA Disposition supply chain. Supporting AM exercises to test and evaluate AM processes in a field environment. The AME program will continue to develop its long-term technology roadmap. It will also continue planning for the specific emulation technology implementations to support specific device family groups in consonance with Customer and Agency requirements. The 40 Volt Operational Amplifier project is anticipated to be completed and transitioned to the validation and verification phase. The 20 Volt Small Dimension Operational Amplifier project is also anticipated to be completed and transitioned to full scale production. AME will continue to develop an additive manufacturing capability for obsolete ceramic microcircuit cases and will continue its radiation hardened analog process development. The AME Program will begin a new project to address obsolete Analog Switches, which have been identified as an emerging issue. The SM program will continue to examine the requirements for research of materials and alloys, development of solutions with cost-efficient production, substitution, domestic qualification, and/or recycling to restore and stabilize strategic and critical materials supply chains that have been compromised by decreased or abandoned domestic production activities or lack of domestic reserves within the United States. Phase II projects will be launched for the domestic sourcing and recycling of gallium metal and oxide. SM will work with the services and offices across OSD to identify critical mineral supply chains that can be addressed by emerging technologies.
The SUBNET program will continue to develop and promote manufacturing improvements with R&D projects that leverage emerging technologies and innovations. The SUBNET program will continue to support and champion research projects that advance safety and quality of the foods destined for our Warfighters, which include but are not limited to: improving subsistence visibility with barcode scanning, sustainable/alternative biodegradable or compostable MRE packaging material sourcing, and MRE optimization. The program will also continue to pursue various Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) topics in Subsistence, including shelf-life extension technologies for fresh fruits and vegetables. The CAST program will continue to monitor the research projects aiming to alleviate problems in the procurement and the manufacture of DOD weapon system parts. The projects also include design tools for manufacturing such as cost modeling and simulation. Process improvements such as light weighting, smart machines and manufacturing, automation and robotics, ergonomics, and sustainability. We will plan for future development in hybrid cast materials, enhanced alloys, and sustainable substitutes, die materials, furnace refractory coatings and digital threat integration and implementation. The FORGE program will continue to monitor projects focused on improving manufacturing processes and alternative forging manufacturing methods. New and innovative coatings for forging dies, and billets. Workforce development tools and resources to help the industry recruit new and retain existing employees. Sensors and smart manufacturing methods and technologies to improve the forging manufacturing process. These projects align with the needs of the DLA and the DoD aimed at supporting and fulfilling the needs of the warfighter. Will Initiate a new BAA for future forging topics as the current efforts conclude. The BATTNET program continues current projects for improving the production readiness, transition, and standardization of soldier and system batteries within the DLA supply chain, leveraging new battery manufacturing technologies. The program is successfully testing improved nickel-cadmium UPS batteries and safe lithium-ion versions for Navy applications. The program plans to initiate projects to expand and improve LVO and LTO cell manufacturing, cell manufacturing improvements for key DoD applications, and assist with addressing supply chain security and resilience issues for essential materials. The AM program will continue to explore emerging technology and innovative trends that are mission critical and mission essential. Current research projects include the development of AM accessibility and acceptability of parts across the enterprise while examining alternative manufacturing options for warfighter readiness. This will enable Military Services the opportunity to utilize manufacturing (AM & ADVM) as a means to decrease supply chain dependency and foreign reliance for much needed parts in the DoD supply chain. This program will continue to research ways to leverage AM policy, protocols and processes for improving part production capabilities. The program will utilize SBIR and Emergent BAA opportunities in Additive Manufacturing/Advanced Manufacturing to develop future plans. The areas are shaped around Joint Operations in an environment of Contested Logistics. Key areas of R&D work include material qualification and development, process optimization, design modernization, part qualification and certification rapid prototyping, tech quality defect detection using AI, feedstock materials development, AM workforce training, AI for AM, Robotics for Readiness, Digital Twin/Digital Thread cataloging, Cyber-Security for AM, Surge Driven Process Capability for the Organic Industrial Base. The Advanced Microcircuit Emulation (AME) program will continue to develop its long-term technology roadmap. It will also continue planning for the specific emulation technology implementations to support specific device family groups in consonance with Customer and Agency requirements. The Analog Switch project is anticipated to begin. The Strategic Materials (SM) program will continue to examine the requirements for research of materials and alloys, development of solutions with cost-efficient production, substitution, domestic qualification, and/or recycling to restore and stabilize strategic and critical materials supply chains that have been compromised by decreased or abandoned domestic production activities or lack of domestic reserves within the United States. As the number of export restrictions on critical minerals continues to increase, a greater emphasis needs to be placed on establishing domestic production and circular economies for these materials. To meet DOD needs for homeland missile defense, the SM program will fund STTR projects and manage contracts in collaboration with USAF in the field of hyper-sonics.
Three years, and no five-year plan
An R-2A activity publishes the prior year, the current year and the budget year. The FYDP outyears exist at project and program-element level and are deliberately absent here rather than inferred. Estimate types are colored and never summed into one figure.
| Fiscal Year | Estimate Type | Amount ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | Actual | 41.5 |
| FY2026 | Enacted | 40.3 |
| FY2027 | Request | 40.7 |
This activity is 100% of project IBA's FY2027 request and 82% of PE 0603680S's. In the request year the activities under a project sum to it exactly; in the current year they under-cover it in about 9% of cases, so an activity's delta can legitimately exceed its parent's and the two must not be compared row to row.
1 activity in project IBA
Every R-2A line of this project, largest FY2027 request first. Linked where the activity has enough of its own narrative to carry a page; the rest are shown in full on the project page.