What project 645351 buys
The Prototyping project enables demonstrations of emerging technologies and warfighting concepts in an operational environment to determine and evaluate the competitive advantage against our adversaries, how the technology is integrated into the future fight, and acquisition pathways to deliver warfighter capabilities. Lifecycle prototyping investments focus on three major thrusts: (1) advancing capabilities of legacy weapon systems, (2) militarizing novel, mature commercial technologies, and (3) exploring partnerships with Department of the Air Force (DAF) Portfolio Acquisition Executives (PAEs) to rapidly transition technologies. Prototype project investments that advance capabilities of legacy weapon systems focus on kinetic energy effectors for base defense and expeditionary employment operations, autonomy enhancements, architecture development, and software-defined electronic warfare and communication capabilities. Prototype projects that seek to militarize novel, mature commercial technologies will focus on artificial intelligence, autonomy, cyber warfare capabilities, digital engineering, and novel weapon and aircraft technologies. Other areas may be pursued as the technology landscape evolves. This requirement supports performance of a full financial audit as required by title 10 U.S.C. Chapter 9A, Sec 240-D. This program element may include necessary civilian pay expenses required to manage, execute, and deliver weapon system capability. The use of such program funds would be in addition to the civilian pay expenses budgeted in program element 0605829F, 0605831F, 0605833F, 0604858F, or 0605898F
- Product Development
- Management Services
Project 645351 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 | 150.5 |
| FY2026 | Enacted | 49.0 |
| FY2027 | Request | 62.6 |
| FY2028 | Outyear | 131.9 |
| FY2029 | Outyear | 111.3 |
| FY2030 | Outyear | 138.5 |
| FY2031 | Outyear | 151.9 |
2 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. 1 of them describes FY2027 work in enough detail to have its own page; the rest are shown here in full. Coverage is partial across the corpus, so count activities, never total them.
- In FY 2027, FAMM and ETV efforts transition to Program, 0604041F as the program has matured and transitioned to the Program Office. - In FY 2027, conduct rapid prototyping of new capabilities and technologies, furthering military proficiency through Government advancements, commercial technology, and DoW industry. Prototyping areas…
Read the FY2027 plan →FY2027 planned work - No planned activities for Blended Wing Body in FY 2027.
FY2026 to FY2027 change - FY 2027 funding decreased compared to FY 2026 by $6.000 million due to programmatic adjustments within the RDT&E portfolio to improve resource efficiency.
FY2026 plans — current year - Based on FY 2025 critical design activities, continue manufacture and assembly of full-scale prototype BWB aircraft for flight demonstration, leveraging significant private cost-share. - Continue to develop and utilize digital engineering and systems engineering tools for risk reduction of aircraft build. Based on prior year execution of systems integration lab efforts, conduct Systems Integration Review and subsequently integrate systems for final assembly of aircraft. Includes integration of flight control laws and flight systems, avionics, propulsion/power/fuel systems, and composite materials for non-cylindrical pressure vessel structures. - Continue to incorporate life-cycle…