What project A5A buys
The Family of Small Uncrewed Aircraft systems are critical to the Army's Transformation in Contact. The Joint Small Uncrewed Aircraft System sUAS Capability Development Document (J-sUAS CDD) solves current and emergent operational gaps by incorporating Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) including swappable payloads, advanced autonomy and software scalability. These systems provide battalion and below ground maneuver elements with critical situational awareness and enhanced force protection as well as responsive reconnaissance and targeting capability with real-time Full Motion Video and sensor data. Each system will include aircraft, ground support equipment, ground control station and Uncrewed Vehicle Control (UVC) software. The Short-Range Reconnaissance (SRR) provides organic maneuver platoons an uncrewed air vehicle designed to support Reconnaissance, Surveillance, and Target Acquisition (RSTA). The system has an aircraft weight of less than 5 lbs, a range of 3-5 km, and an endurance greater than 30 minutes. The system includes modular payloads, obstacle avoidance, target recognition, automated following, and networked capability. The Medium Range Reconnaissance (MRR) system, informed by the Company Level Directed Requirement (SUAS DR), provides organic RSTA capability within the Maneuver Company of Brigade Combat Teams. The systems will have 10km range and 8-hour endurance. System will include Assured Positioning, Navigation and Timing (APNT), Electro-Optical/Infra-Red (EO/IR), laser targeting, and kinetic architectures in a contested environment. The Long-Range Reconnaissance (LRR) System provides organic maneuver battalions an uncrewed air vehicle designed to support RSTA efforts. The systems have an aircraft weight of less than 55 lbs., a range of 40-60 km and endurance of 5-10 hours. System includes APNT, EO/IR, laser targeting, and kinetic architectures in a contested environment. The Joint Tactical Autonomous Aerial Resupply System (JTAARS) is an autonomous aerial cargo delivery system, organic to the maneuver commander, that provides options for rapid and agile sustainment of highly mobile tactical combat forces, operating in a widely dispersed manner in the tactical support and close areas.
- Management Services
- Product Development
- Test and Evaluation
Project A5A funding, FY2026–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) |
|---|---|---|
| FY2026 | Enacted | 50.7 |
| FY2027 | Request | 31.5 |
| FY2028 | Outyear | 33.3 |
| FY2029 | Outyear | 34.6 |
| FY2030 | Outyear | 33.8 |
| FY2031 | Outyear | 34.2 |
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 System integration, cybersecurity, developmental and operational testing and evaluation of multiple systems.
FY2026 to FY2027 change FY 2027 funding decrease as a result of close-out of various SUAS test and evaluation efforts. Ongoing efforts continue to include system integration, cybersecurity, and the testing and evaluation of multiple SUAS systems.
FY2026 plans — current year System integration, special user demonstrations, Modular Open Systems Architecture (MOSA), environmental and cybersecurity testing and evaluation of multiple systems.
FY2027 planned work Development and system integration of SRR Next Generation, MRR, and LRR air vehicles and payloads.
FY2026 to FY2027 change FY 2027 funding decrease due to the ramp-down the development and system integration of Short-Range Reconnaissance (SRR) Next Generation, Medium-Range Reconnaissance (MRR), and Long-Range Reconnaissance (LRR) air vehicles and payloads.
FY2026 plans — current year Development and system integration of SRR Next Generation, MRR, and LRR air vehicles and payloads.
FY2027 planned work Evaluation and resolution of technology gaps, battery endurance and environmental improvements, and C5ISR/EW Modular Open Suite of Standards (CMOSS) compliance.
FY2026 to FY2027 change FY 2027 funding increase to support SUAS demonstration and experimentation efforts.
FY2026 plans — current year Evaluation and resolution of technology gaps, battery endurance and environmental improvements, and C5ISR/EW Modular Open Suite of Standards (CMOSS) compliance.
FY2027 planned work Systems Engineering and Program Management support for development and integration of next generation systems and continuation of demonstration and testing efforts.
FY2026 to FY2027 change FY 2027 funding decrease due to the ramp-down of SUAS development, test, and demonstration efforts.
FY2026 plans — current year Systems Engineering and Program Management support for development and integration of next generation systems and continuation of demonstration and testing efforts.