# Future Vertical LIFT (maritime Strike) — Program Element 0604292N

**Program element:** 0604292N  
**Component:** U.S. Navy  
**Appropriation:** 1319 — RDT&E, Navy  
**Budget Activity:** 4 — Advanced Component Development & Prototypes  
**Vintage:** President's Budget PB2027  
**Canonical URL:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/0604292N

## Summary

U.S. Navy funding falls 25% to a $5.3M request in FY2027 (down from a FY2026 peak), sustained across the five-year plan. In the FY2027 defense authorization, the House funded it in full; the Senate funded it in full; House appropriators funded it in full. NAWC AD leads the industry work.

## Funding profile

| Fiscal Year | Estimate Type | Amount ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | Actual | 4.7 |
| FY2026 | Enacted | 7.1 |
| FY2027 | Request | 5.3 |
| FY2028 | Outyear | 5.5 |
| FY2029 | Outyear | 5.2 |
| FY2030 | Outyear | 5.2 |
| FY2031 | Outyear | 5.6 |

> Estimate types are not summed — the profile mixes actuals, enacted law, the request, and outyear projections.

## Congressional marks (FY2027)

| Stage | Marked ($M) | Change ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| Request | 5.3 | — |
| House NDAA (HASC) | 5.3 | +0.0 |
| Senate NDAA (SASC) | 5.3 | +0.0 |
| House Approps (HAC-D) | 5.3 | +0.0 |

> FY2027 NDAA authorization marks, as of 2026-07-27. Not appropriations or final law.

## Projects (1)

| Project | Title | FY2025 actual | FY2026 enacted | FY2027 request | Move |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2940 | Future Vertical Lift (Maritime Strike) | 4.7 | 7.1 | 5.3 | −25% |

> Projects are the summable leaves: the program element total is their sum, never added to it.

### Project 2940 — 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.

**Named R-3 performers** (share of this project's FY2027 R-3 total, so they need not reach 100%)**:** NAWC AD (2.3, 44%).

| Activity (R-2A) | FY2025 | FY2026 | FY2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| FVL (MS) Requirements Definition and Acquisition Documentation | 4.7 | 7.1 | 5.3 |

> R-2A activities carry the prior, current and budget year only — no five-year plan. Coverage is partial, so count them, never total them.

## Where the FY2027 request goes

| Category | Share | $M |
|---|---|---|
| Industry primes | 44% | 2.3 |
| Other / unspecified | 56% | 3.0 |

**Top named industry performers:** NAWC AD ($2.3M, 44%).

> R-3 exhibit contract funding, not USAspending obligations.

## Mission & acquisition strategy

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.

The AoA was completed in 1QFY2023 and identified the need for an improved FVL (MS) Family of Systems (FoS) to respond to the future threat environment, resulting in a recommendation for pre-Milestone A efforts and a Milestone A entry. Limited pre-Milestone A efforts began in FY 2024. The Navy's Gate 2 Review was completed in 2QFY2025. The Gate 2 Decision identified the preferred alternatives of an Optionally Crewed Single Main Rotor Helicopter or maximally common Crewed and Uncrewed Single Main Rotor Helicopters. The preferred alternative is to leverage a common avionics and mission systems architecture using a MOSA for program risk reduction and cost efficiency.

## Related program elements

- [0604135A — Strategic Mid-Range Fires](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0604135A) (Army)
- [0605052A — Indirect Fire Protection Capability Inc 2 - Block 1](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0605052A) (Army)
- [0604257F — Advanced Technology and Sensors](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0604257F) (Air Force)
- [0207110F — F-47](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0207110F) (Air Force)

## Source & machine access

- **Source:** FY2027 Department of the Navy RDT&E Budget Justification, Exhibits R-2/R-3, PE 0604292N (PB PB2027); FY2027 NDAA committee marks (as of 2026-07-27).
- **MCP:** `mcp.hitchintel.com` — `budget_get_program_element(pe="0604292N")`.

*HitchAI is an independent intelligence service, not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Defense. Budget figures are requests/estimates, not obligations.*