What project BU9 buys
This funding line is directly aligned to the Army Air and Missile Defense Modernization Priority. The Directed Energy Integrated Fires Protection Capability (DE-IFPC) High Energy Laser (HEL) is an Air Defense capability for defense of fixed and semi-fixed sites from Cruise Missiles (CM); Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS); Rocket, Artillery, and Mortar (RAM); Fixed Wing (FW); and Rotary Wing (RW) threats. This project will deliver an operationally effective rapid prototype capability in FY 2026. IFPC-HEL funds an improved mechanism to effectively confront emerging threats and advance the U.S. military dominance in accordance with the 2026 National Defense Strategy. Efforts include development, acquisition, test and evaluation, assessment, maturation, and potential future transition of the prototype technology to an acquisition program.
- Management Services
- Product Development
- Support
- Test and Evaluation
Project BU9 funding, FY2025–FY2026
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 | 18.8 |
| FY2026 | Enacted | 16.4 |
1 accomplishment / planned program
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. Coverage is partial across the corpus, so count activities, never total them.
FY2026 to FY2027 change The decrease from FY 2026 to FY 2027 reflects the transfer of IFPC-HEL prototype to the JLWS program.
FY2026 plans — current year FY 2026 funds will support final prototype test and integration and assessment for delivery in FY 2026 and begin CONUS Contractor Logistic Support (CLS). FY 2026 funds will ensure CLS coverage into FY 2027 to transfer the prototype system and data into the Joint Laser Weapon System (JLWS) program to support continued lethality testing against joint threats.
FY2025 accomplishments Complete prototype fabrication, lab acceptance and Continuous Soldier Integration.