Future Vertical Lift (Maritime Strike)
The Future Vertical Lift (Maritime Strike) (FVL (MS)) project directs developmental activities in support of the replacement of the current inventory of Navy helicopters in the 2040+ timeframe. Specific development activities required for FVL (MS) may include: capability requirements analysis, documentation, and validation; completion of affordability studies; establishment of program infrastructure in the appropriate security environments (e.g. computers, an Integrated Development Environment, facilities, and administration); production of required acquisition documentation; Request for Proposal (RFP) development; technology and program risk reduction initiatives; design trade studies; and support to joint vertical lift initiatives, such as Modular Open System Approach (MOSA) reference and objective architectures for Flight Critical Avionics, Mission Systems, and Weapons systems, Crewed/Uncrewed Teaming technology development, air vehicle technology development, and shipboard integration into FVL(MS) prototyping initiatives. Follow-on activities include refinement of Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) reference and objective architectures; conduct air vehicle/mission systems Technology Maturation and Risk Reduction (TMRR) activities; and ultimately develop a new vertical lift Navy aircraft in the Engineering and Material Development acquisition phase. Activities and technologies may be leveraged for sustainment and modernization of legacy Navy helicopters. These efforts will enable timely development of a system that provides best value and capability to the Joint Warfighter while maintaining effective and efficient war fighting capability in support of the Navy's 15-year Aviation Plan and 30-year Shipbuilding Plan. FY 2027 budget funds FVL (MS) pre-Milestone A activities to include analysis, studies, and development of acquisition documentation. Tasks to be performed may include acquisition program management functions, engineering modeling analysis, conceptual design trade studies, and other related follow-on activities.
FY2027 planned work Continuation of pre-Milestone A activities to include analysis, studies, and production of acquisition documentation. MS-A supporting documents may include but are not limited to: an Acquisition Strategy (AS), Capabilities Development Document (CDD), Developmental CONOPs, Life Cycle Cost Estimate (LCCE), Life Cycle Sustainment Plan (LCSP) and Systems Engineering Plan (SEP). The FVL (MS) program will support MOSA objective architecture efforts.
FY2026 to FY2027 change FY 2026 to FY 2027 funding decreases by $1.811M is due to the realignment of funds for higher Navy priority requirements.
FY2026 plans — current year Continuation of pre-Milestone A activities to include analyses, studies and production of acquisition documentation. Tasks to be performed may include acquisition program management functions, engineering modeling and analysis, system specification and Draft CDD and CONOPs development, design trade studies and prototyping, virtual simulation, conceptual design of Air Vehicle, Avionics, Propulsion and Dynamics, Communications and Navigation, Weapons and Fire Control, Human Systems Integration, Survivability and Vulnerability, Missions and Missions Systems Management, Reliability and Maintainability, Training, Logistics, Sensor, Pilotage and Targeting Systems, VMS/Flight Control…