# High Reliability Cluster Munitions (HRCM) Development and Demonstration

**R-2A activity** of project 638 — Rapid Prototyping Program  
**Program element:** 0604331D8Z — Rapid Prototyping Program  
**Component:** Defense-Wide · **Budget Activity:** 4  
**Vintage:** President's Budget PB2027  
**Canonical URL:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/0604331D8Z/638/a25  
**Parent:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/0604331D8Z

## Summary

This activity requests $112.2M in FY2027, 47% of project 638, up 39% 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 the HRCM effort development efforts in support of emergent operational needs in collaboration with Services and CCMDs.

**FY2026 to FY2027 change.** The funding increase from FY 2026 to FY 2027 supports the ramp-up from initial prototype development to full-scale prototype field demonstrations, which will occur in Q4 FY27. These additional resources are required for live-fire exercises in collaboration with Army Long Range Precision Fires and to mature advanced submunition technologies.

## Before the request year

**FY2026 plans — current year.** Initiate the HRCM effort development efforts in support of emergent operational needs in collaboration with Services and CCMDs. Progress on the DFA and LRDS will be transitioned from corresponding Joint Enhanced Munition Technology Program science and technology efforts. Coordination with U.S. Army Long Range Precision Fires will provide technical specifications and integration support.

## Funding

| Fiscal Year | Estimate Type | Amount ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| FY2026 | Enacted | 80.8 |
| FY2027 | Request | 112.2 |

> 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.

## Other activities in project 638

- [Sensors and Data Analytics](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0604331D8Z/638/a19) — FY2027 34.2
- Advanced Energetics Prototyping and Demonstration — FY2027 30.0
- Weapons Kinetic / Non-Kinetic Effects — FY2027 16.3
- [Resilient Communications](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0604331D8Z/638/a18) — FY2027 14.3
- [Collaborative Multi-Domain Autonomy](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0604331D8Z/638/a20) — FY2027 13.1
- Kill Web Interoperability — FY2027 9.8
- Contested Logistics / Sustainment — FY2027 4.5
- Emerging Prototypes and Enablers — FY2027 4.3
- Terrestrial Electronic Surveillance (Sensors and Data Analytics) — FY2027 —
- Multi-domain Unmanned Secure Integrated Communications (MUSIC) (Resilient Communications) — FY2027 —
- Multi-domain Autonomous Tactical Expendable Radio (MATER) (Resilient Communications) — FY2027 —
- Wolfpack (Weapons Kinetic/Non-Kinetic Effects) — FY2027 —
- Swarming Prototype Attack Unmanned Aerial Systems (Collaborative Multi-Domain Autonomy) — FY2027 —
- Stratospheric Payload Development and Maturation (Collaborative Multi-Domain Autonomy) — FY2027 —
- Low Cost Short Range Air Defense (LSHORAD) Experimentation (Weapons Kinetic/Non-Kinetic Effects) — FY2027 —
- Project Ariel (Weapons Kinetic/Non-Kinetic Effects) — FY2027 —
- Resilient Affordable Satellite communications Terminal (RAST) (Resilient Communications) — FY2027 —
- Tallneck (Weapons Kinetic/Non-Kinetic Effects) — FY2027 —
- Cryptid Stare (Weapons Kinetic/Non-Kinetic Effects) — FY2027 —
- Bamboozled (Weapons Kinetic/Non-Kinetic Effects) — FY2027 —
- Small Platform Aerial Strike Munition (SPASM) (Collaborative Multi-Domain Autonomy) — FY2027 —
- Tibanna CUAS Assessment (Sensors & Data Analytics) — FY2027 —
- Small Lightweight Interceptor with Cost Efficiency (SLICE) (Weapons Kinetic/Non-Kinetic Effects) — FY2027 —
- LSHORAD Prototyping (Weapons Kinetic/Non-Kinetic Effects) — FY2027 —
- Mines and Fast Attack Craft (Collaborative Multi-Domain Autonomy) — FY2027 —

## Source & machine access

- **Source:** FY2027 Office of the Secretary of Defense RDT&E Budget Justification, Exhibit R-2A, PE 0604331D8Z project 638 (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.*