Project EL2
$5.1MFY2027 request ▲ 25%Army Field Feeding Equipment
FY2025 actual$1.6M
FY2026 enacted$4.1M
FY2027 request$5.1M
Management ServicesProduct DevelopmentSupportTest and Evaluation
FY2027 Request
$6.7M
▲ 19% vs FY2026
FY2026 Enacted
$5.7M
▲ 77% vs FY2025
FY2025 Actual
$3.2M
Prior year
Roll-up of 2 projects. Projects are the summable leaves — the PE total is their sum, never added to it.
For fiscal year 2027, the U.S. Army is requesting $6.7M for Combat Feeding, Clothing, and Equipment under RDT&E program element 0604713A, up 19% over FY2026.
Funding trajectory
Funding profile, FY2025–FY2031
Prior years are actuals, the budget year is the request, and the outyears are the FYDP plan. Estimate types are colored and never summed into one figure.
Actual Enacted Request Outyear (FYDP)
| Fiscal Year | Estimate Type | Amount ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | Actual | 3.2 |
| FY2026 | Enacted | 5.7 |
| FY2027 | Request | 6.7 |
| FY2028 | Outyear | 3.0 |
| FY2029 | Outyear | 2.4 |
| FY2030 | Outyear | 2.4 |
| FY2031 | Outyear | 2.4 |
Where it sits
Acquisition lifecycle
This program is funded in RDT&E Budget Activity 5 — System Development & Demonstration.
Complete
Research
BA 1–2
Complete
Advanced Technology
BA 3
Complete
Prototyping
BA 4
Current
Development & Fielding
BA 5–7
Inside the program element
2 projects roll up into PE 0604713A
Projects are the summable leaves — the PE total is their sum, never added to it. Program elements and projects carry the full five-year plan; activities stop at the budget year. This PE moves 19% overall, which can hide much larger swings below.
Project 548
$1.6MFY2027 request ▲ 1%Mil Subsistence Sys
FY2025 actual$1.6M
FY2026 enacted$1.6M
FY2027 request$1.6M
Management ServicesProduct DevelopmentTest and Evaluation
Congressional action
Congressional marks
Committee marks on the FY2027 request. Adds and cuts are reconciled in conference before they become law.
RequestPresident's Budget
$6.7M
House NDAA (HASC)HASC
$6.7M full · +$0
Senate NDAA (SASC)SASC
$6.7M full · +$0
House Approps (HAC-D)HAC_D
$6.7M full · +$0
unresolved as of 2026-07-27. These are FY2027 authorization marks (NDAA); appropriations and the conference agreement may differ.
Who's building it
Where the FY2027 request goes
Performers named in the R-3 exhibit, resolved into industry, government-lab, and unspecified shares. Budget-justification contract funding, not obligations.
| Where FY2027 funding flows | Share | $M |
|---|---|---|
| Government labs & warfare centers | 22% | 1.5 |
| Other / unspecified | 78% | 5.2 |
| FY2027 request | 100% | 6.7 |
Program detail
Mission & acquisition strategy
This Program Element supports the development, demonstration and Non-Developmental Item (NDI) Commercial Off The-Shelf (COTS) evaluation of combat feeding equipment to enhance soldier efficiency, improve soldier survivability, reduce food service logistics requirements, and supports Field Feeding programs for all the services. Line items within this PE support multi-fuel, rapidly deployable field food service equipment initiatives. Efforts also support the Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) phase of programs to improve equipment, enhance safety in food service, and decrease fuel and water requirements.
Complete Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) and Demonstration of food items and equipment for transition into competitive procurement contract. Complete advanced research efforts to support Engineering Change Proposals for previously developed equipment.
Project EL2, 548 — Army Field Feeding Equipment
- Management Services
- Product Development
- Support
- Test and Evaluation
Ask Hitch
Ask this program element
Answers are generated from the figures on this page — the FY2027 justification exhibits and the marks tracked above — and nothing else is consulted. Confirm any figure against the cited exhibit before you use it externally.
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Questions this page can answer
How does the FY2027 request compare with FY2026, and what does the five-year plan show?What did the FY2027 NDAA committees do to this request?Which project inside PE 0604713A is growing fastest, and which is shrinking?How is the FY2027 request split between industry and government performers?
This page carries the budget justification and the NDAA marks — nothing else. For what a contractor has actually been obligated, the ledger is at hitchintel.com/vendors; for live solicitations, hitchintel.com/opportunities. Both are member surfaces.
Provenance
Cite this page
Sources
FY2027 Department of the Army RDT&E Budget Justification · Exhibits R-2 / R-3 · PE 0604713A (President's Budget PB2027) — and FY2027 NDAA committee marks, as tracked 2026-07-27.
Suggested citation
HitchAI, "Combat Feeding, Clothing, and Equipment (PE 0604713A)," federal budget intelligence, PB2027 vintage. hitchintel.com/programs/0604713A
Machine access
Markdown twin
/programs/0604713A.md · MCP mcp.hitchintel.com → budget_get_program_element, budget_get_cong_marksFY2027 Request
$5.1M
▲ 25% vs FY2026
FY2026 Enacted
$4.1M
▲ 150% vs FY2025
FY2025 Actual
$1.6M
Prior year
Army Field Feeding Equipment — one RDT&E project inside PE 0604713A. Congressional marks are recorded on the program element, not on a project.
Project EL2 — Army Field Feeding Equipment — requests $5.1M in FY2027, 76% of the $6.7M requested for program element 0604713A. Year over year it grows 25% against FY2026.
Funding trajectory
Project EL2 funding, FY2025–FY2031
Prior years are actuals, the budget year is the request, and the outyears are the FYDP plan. Estimate types are colored and never summed into one figure. Projects carry the full five-year plan; the activities inside them stop at the budget year.
Actual Enacted Request Outyear (FYDP)
| Fiscal Year | Estimate Type | Amount ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | Actual | 1.6 |
| FY2026 | Enacted | 4.1 |
| FY2027 | Request | 5.1 |
| FY2028 | Outyear | 1.4 |
| FY2029 | Outyear | 0.8 |
| FY2030 | Outyear | 0.8 |
| FY2031 | Outyear | 0.8 |
Inside the project
4 accomplishments / planned programs
The R-2A exhibit. Activities carry the prior, current and budget year only — no five-year plan — and they are descriptive: coverage is partial and they do not always add back to the project, so count them, never total them.
MTRCS RU Replacement▼ 8%
FY2025 actual$1.1M
FY2026 enacted$3.3M
FY2027 request$3.0M
FY2027 planned work Complete RU Prototype Testing and Evaluation. Receive Finalized Test Reports, Tech Data Package, Bill of Materials, Tech Manual Updates, finalize Engineering Change Proposal (ECP), and all other supporting documentation.
FY2026 to FY2027 change Decrease due to the majority of development complete to include the delivery of 4 prototypes and contractor qualification testing. FY27 will focus on final customer testing, system refinements, and completion of technical data and logistics deliverables, and finalize ECP.
FY2026 plans — current year Complete the RU prototype development and conduct performance & environmental qualification testing on one or more prototype created for the testing regimen. Perform integration testing to ensure full compatibility with previous existing MTRCS variants to Army performance requirements.
FY2025 accomplishments Perform design and develop activities for a prototype refrigeration unit that meets the Army's performance requirements for tactical refrigeration.
AK Integration with JLTV▼ 100%
FY2025 actual$0.6M
FY2026 enacted$0.8M
FY2027 request—
FY2026 to FY2027 change FY 2027 funding decrease due to completion of effort.
FY2026 plans — current year Develop drawings and associated documentation to reflect configuration for Assault Kitchen (AK) integration onto the JLTV trailer. Procure two AK platform prototypes and two JLTV trailers that will support future testing. Train the system support team on new AK integration support.
FY2025 accomplishments Design, develop, and integrate AK components into testable JLTV and trailer combination. Execute initial in-house testing and formal test program at government facility.
MIRCS RU ReplacementNEW
FY2025 actual—
FY2026 enacted—
FY2027 request$0.8M
FY2027 planned work Complete the RU prototype development and conduct performance & environmental qualification testing on one or more prototype created for the testing regimen. Perform integration testing to ensure full compatibility with previous existing MIRCS variants to Army performance requirements. Plan to Leverage MIRCS RU technology.
FY2026 to FY2027 change Program Increase in FY27 to begin development of new RU.
MKT Refurbishment and UGR Capability IncreaseNEW
FY2025 actual—
FY2026 enacted—
FY2027 request$1.3M
FY2027 planned work Complete formal test program and assessment. Generate required update to existing Technical Data Package (TDP). Perform required changes based on design documentation. Approve Engineering Change Proposal (ECP) to reflect the technical change for the MKT Trailer upgrades and Additional Heat and Serve Capability.
FY2026 to FY2027 change Program Increase in FY27 to begin MKT Upgrade development.
Project detail
What project EL2 buys
This project supports the development, demonstration and Non-Developmental Item (NDI) Commercial Off-The Shelf (COTS) evaluation of combat feeding equipment to enhance Soldier efficiency, improve Soldier survivability, and reduce food service logistics requirements for the Army. Planned efforts support the rapidly deployable, organically maintained and provisioned field food service equipment initiatives. Operations also support the Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) phase of programs to improve equipment, enhance safety in food service, reduce environmental impact, and decrease fuel and water requirements. This effort develops critical enablers that support the Army's Strategic Planning Guidance by developing and integrating critical expeditionary capabilities that maintain readiness, providing effective solutions that reduce the resource and operational energy footprint, providing modernized deployable kitchen equipment for Army 2030, and enhancing the field Soldier's well-being. This project reduces sustainment requirements, related Combat Support/ Combat Service Support (CS/CSS) demands on lift, the combat zone footprint, and costs for logistical support. FY2027 funds will be utilized to complete development of test-ready Refrigeration Unit (RU) prototypes for Multi-Temperature Refrigerated Container System (MTRCS) and conduct development for RU prototypes for Mobile Integrated Remains Collection System (MIRCS).
R-3 lines of work
- Management Services
- Product Development
- Support
- Test and Evaluation
FY2027 Request
$1.6M
▲ 1.5% vs FY2026
FY2026 Enacted
$1.6M
▲ 0.2% vs FY2025
FY2025 Actual
$1.6M
Prior year
Mil Subsistence Sys — one RDT&E project inside PE 0604713A. Congressional marks are recorded on the program element, not on a project.
Project 548 — Mil Subsistence Sys — requests $1.6M in FY2027, 24% of the $6.7M requested for program element 0604713A. Year over year it grows 1.5% against FY2026.
Funding trajectory
Project 548 funding, FY2025–FY2031
Prior years are actuals, the budget year is the request, and the outyears are the FYDP plan. Estimate types are colored and never summed into one figure. Projects carry the full five-year plan; the activities inside them stop at the budget year.
Actual Enacted Request Outyear (FYDP)
| Fiscal Year | Estimate Type | Amount ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | Actual | 1.6 |
| FY2026 | Enacted | 1.6 |
| FY2027 | Request | 1.6 |
| FY2028 | Outyear | 1.6 |
| FY2029 | Outyear | 1.6 |
| FY2030 | Outyear | 1.6 |
| FY2031 | Outyear | 1.6 |
Inside the project
2 accomplishments / planned programs
The R-2A exhibit. Activities carry the prior, current and budget year only — no five-year plan — and they are descriptive: coverage is partial and they do not always add back to the project, so count them, never total them.
Joint Service Combat Ration System Development▲ 15%
FY2025 actual$0.9M
FY2026 enacted$0.8M
FY2027 request$1.0M
FY2027 planned work Will modernize existing ration platforms: Meal, Ready-to-Eat (MRE), Close Combat Assault Ration (CCAR), Unitized Group Rations (UGR) - Heat & Serve/Express (H&S/E) with improved components, packaging, and waste reduction; will develop menus, receive MDA C approval and transition documentation for MRE 49 packaging optimization to DLA Troop Support (DLA-TS); will obtain U.S. Army Surgeon General approval of menus/components and transition performance-based specifications to DLA-TS menus and components with optimized nutrition and expanded variety to support up to five days of semi-independent operations with the CCAR-2; will improve the UGR-H&S quality and nutritional content, align the UGR…
FY2026 to FY2027 change Increase of RDT&E activities to support ration development. In FY27, ration development was increased due to higher field test costs associated with the MRE, CCAR, and UGR H&S/E.
FY2026 plans — current year For existing operational ration platforms: Meal, Ready-to-Eat (MRE); Close Combat Assault Ration (CCAR); Unitized Group Rations (UGR) - A/ Heat&Serve; Will develop menus, receive U.S. Army Surgeon General (OTSG) approval and transition documentation for MRE 47; Will continue to conduct initial operational test and evaluation (IOT&E) on ration systems to validate system level performance - to include expanded/optimized CCAR menus and Arctic Religious Rations; will present to the Joint Services for Milestone C approval; Will develop technical data packages; Will conduct large scale production prove out tests (PPTs); will finalize procurement documents and initiate transition to DLA-Troop…
FY2025 accomplishments For existing operational ration platforms: Meal, Ready-to-Eat (MRE); Close Combat Assault Ration (CCAR); Unitized Group Rations (UGR) - A/M/ Heat&Serve; integrated prototype components/technologies into menu systems; completed documentation of MRE 26 and UGR-M assembly contract requirements (ACR); defined ration assembly processes to improve quality, optimized nutritional content, decreased weight/cube/cost and/or improve modularity and field utility; continued to conduct OT&E on ration systems to validate system level performance; presented recommendations to the Joint Services for Milestone C approval; finalized procurement documents and initiate transition to DLA-Troop Support; obtained…
Joint Service Field Feeding Systems Development▼ 15%
FY2025 actual$0.6M
FY2026 enacted$0.7M
FY2027 request$0.6M
FY2027 planned work Will transition energy conservation and reduced footprint kitchen assets and equipment manuals to USAF Basic Expeditionary Airfield Resources (BEAR) program office in support of expeditionary airfield kitchen systems; will conduct testing and evaluation of advanced refrigeration and cooking systems for submarines, including the evaluation of deep frying and hot holding equipment with increased frying capacity and decreased labor, and advanced refrigeration assets with increased compressor reliability, reduced maintenance, and increased mean time between failure.
FY2026 to FY2027 change Decrease of RDT&E activities to support field feeding equipment. In FY27, field feeding equipment development was decreased due to higher required field test costs.
FY2026 plans — current year Will complete final system designs with insertion of energy and footprint reducing components in support of water/fuel/energy conservation in USAF Basic Expeditionary Airfield Resources (BEAR) field feeding systems; Will baseline the associated labor, efficiency, and reliability of the proposed hot hold/frying equipment in Navy submarine galley upgrades in support of optimized crew size goals.
FY2025 accomplishments Completed operational test and evaluation (OT&E) and perform at-sea user evaluations of bakery equipment in support of Navy galley operations; conducted operational test and evaluation (OT&E) for component upgrades in support of water/fuel/energy conservation in USAF BEAR field feeding systems; completed test and evaluation (T&E), generated Engineering Change Proposals and Technical Data Packages for upgrades to USMC Expeditionary Field Kitchen.
Project detail
What project 548 buys
This project enables system development and demonstration of Joint Service combat rations and field feeding equipment/systems designed to improve warfighter performance and reduce the logistics burden of subsistence support. Efforts funded in this Project support all four Services, the Special Operations Command, and the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA). The Army serves as the Executive Agent for this Department of War (DoW) program, with oversight and coordination provided by the DoW Combat Feeding Research and Engineering Board (CFREB) as required by DoD Directive (DoDD) 3235.02E. Centralized execution of the DoW Combat Feeding Research and Engineering Program (CFREP) with Joint Service review and approval eliminates unnecessary duplication of efforts across the Services and maximizes use of common materiel solutions.
R-3 lines of work
- Management Services
- Product Development
- Test and Evaluation