# Aircraft Operational Energy

**R-2A activity** of project 0996 — Aircraft Energy Technology  
**Program element:** 0603724N — Navy Energy Program  
**Component:** U.S. Navy · **Budget Activity:** 4  
**Vintage:** President's Budget PB2027  
**Canonical URL:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/0603724N/0996/a0  
**Parent:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/0603724N/0996

## Summary

This activity requests $19.0M in FY2027, 100% of project 0996, up 12% 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.** Continue identification, testing and assessment of Aircraft Energy Technologies to enhance Naval Aviation operational capability. Implement VR and AI technologies to optimize pilot training and scheduling. Mature and demonstrate more efficient flight planning technologies. Assess and mature air vehicle efficiency technologies. Assess and mature aircraft engine technologies. Begin development and testing of emergent battery technologies, to include solid state batteries and superconducting capacitors.

**FY2026 to FY2027 change.** Increase from FY 2026 to FY 2027 to develop and test solid state batteries and superconducting capacitors.

## Before the request year

**FY2026 plans — current year.** Continue identification, testing and assessment of Aircraft Energy Technologies to enhance Naval Aviation operational capability. Implement VR and AI technologies to optimize pilot training and scheduling. Support resolution of legacy aircraft power management challenges. Mature more efficient aerial refueling technologies for transition. Assess and mature engine component efficiency technologies. Assess and mature air vehicle efficiency technologies.

## Funding

| Fiscal Year | Estimate Type | Amount ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | Actual | 21.0 |
| FY2026 | Enacted | 16.9 |
| FY2027 | Request | 19.0 |

> 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.

## Source & machine access

- **Source:** FY2027 Department of the Navy RDT&E Budget Justification, Exhibit R-2A, PE 0603724N project 0996 (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.*