What project 016 buys
Project 016: Close Combat Capabilities, covers multiple programs: Prototype Integration for Multi-Domain Operations, Enhanced Robotics Payload - Render Safe (ERPRS), Mine Clearing Line Charge (MICLIC) Wireless Initiation, the Arresting Cable Release Mechanism (ACRM), and Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems (c-UAS). Enhanced Robotics Payload - Render Safe (ERP-RS) will enable Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) teams to access, render safe, and dispose of explosive hazards (EH) while removing Soldiers from the direct effects of explosive blast and fragmentation. ERP-RS consists of three modules that will mount on existing (MTRS Inc. II and CRS-H) and future robotic platforms in EOD units: (1) Highly Dexterous Manipulation System (HDMS) that has increased lift capacity and dexterity over current manipulators, using dual arm manipulation, will contribute to access, render safe, and disposal of sensitive EH, (2) a Multi-Shot Disruptor (MSD) module that provides remote selectable and precise disruption of surface laid or suspended EH, and (3) a Precision Aim Module (PAM) to provide accurate disruption of surface laid or suspended EH with the Multi-Shot Disrupter Module. These ERP-RS capabilities will provide a level of access, render safe, and disposal of EH. Mine Clearing Line Charge (MICLIC) Wireless Initiation effort is a reliability enhancement to the current MICLIC system. The MICLIC is a legacy heavy minefield breaching capability consisting of a trailer mounted launcher that deploys the M58A4 Linear Demolition Charge via the MK22 Mod 4 Rocket. The system has historically suffered from poor detonation reliability traced primarily to the fuze or command wires leading to it. By eliminating the wired connections and replacing the fuze with a system based on the fielded M152 Remote Activation Munition System (RAMS), system reliability in command detonation mode will be maximized. Wireless initiation is also a key enabler for remote/robotic employment of current and future breaching systems to remove Soldiers from the breach as described in emerging breaching requirements such as the Autonomous Breaching System. If emerging requirement(s) is approved, effort will pivot to initiation system, development and integration activities on that replacement program.
- Product Development
- Support
- Test and Evaluation
Project 016 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.
| Fiscal Year | Estimate Type | Amount ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | Actual | 47.2 |
| FY2026 | Enacted | 70.6 |
| FY2027 | Request | 9.4 |
| FY2028 | Outyear | 3.7 |
| FY2029 | Outyear | 3.8 |
| FY2030 | Outyear | 3.3 |
| FY2031 | Outyear | 3.3 |
4 accomplishments / planned programs
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.
FY2027 planned work FY 2027 funding will support test and evaluation of the IF CM and finish UMR activities and documentation.
FY2026 to FY2027 change FY 2027 funding increase due to the transition of the Iron Fist Countermeasure development effort from 0604852A / Suite of Survivability Enhancement Systems - EMD Project FE8 / Vehicle Protection Suite.
FY2027 planned work FY 2027 funding will complete any residual design efforts and initiate procurement of qualification hardware.
FY2026 to FY2027 change Increase to evaluate newer, alternate concepts and accelerate qualification.
FY2026 plans — current year FY 2026 funding will support an analysis of alternatives (AoA) to select an optimal design approach for the ACRM. Pending results of AoA, detailed design phase will occur immediately after.
FY2027 planned work FY 2027 funding will support the operational assessment of the HDMS payload.
FY2026 to FY2027 change FY 2027 funding decrease due to successful prototyping efforts transitioning to production.
FY2026 plans — current year FY 2026 funding will support the ongoing development of the PAM, MSD, and HDMS. Funding will be provided to the down selected vendors to further improve their designs, test and evaluate systems, and perform interoperability assessment on the payloads with HUGV platforms.
FY2025 accomplishments FY2025 funding will support the continued Phase 1 development of the precision aim module and multi-shot disruptor. The program will perform Phase 1 development testing. Documentation and preparations for Phase 1 Milestone C will begin. The program also plans to award the Phase 2 contract to develop the highly dexterous manipulation system.
FY2027 planned work FY 2027 funding will produce qualification test hardware and begin qualification testing of the wireless initiation solution.
FY2026 plans — current year FY 2026 funding will support design completion and engineering testing of the 450FD wireless firing device prototype, developed by Army research labs, used in robotic breaching demonstrations in FY24.