# Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) System Development

**R-2A activity** of project A5C — Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS)  
**Program element:** 0605345A — Unmanned Aerial Systems Launched Effects Systems Development  
**Component:** U.S. Army · **Budget Activity:** 5  
**Vintage:** President's Budget PB2027  
**Canonical URL:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/0605345A/A5C/a2  
**Parent:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/0605345A/A5C

> **NEW START.** $389.6M requested in FY2027 with no prior-year and no current-year funding.

## Summary

This activity requests $389.6M in FY2027, 80% of project A5C — a new start with no prior-year and no current-year money. The R-2A exhibit describes it across FY2027, including what the FY2027 money is planned to buy.

## What the FY2027 request buys

**FY2027 planned work.** FY 2027 funding will be used to support UE-UAS, BDE UAS system developments and to rapidly develop and issue a Group 4+ UAS distinguished by its short or vertical takeoff and landing capability, allowing it to launch and/or operate without a traditional runway and in austere environments. The UAS systems will provide a comprehensive battlefield view by conducting reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition missions, while also integrating communication, lethality, and electronic warfare payloads. The systems feature a modular design that allows for rapid upgrades to keep pace with technological advancements and adversarial threats. These development efforts rely on direct soldier feedback through continuous user assessments to enhance survivability and effectiveness in any operational environment.

**FY2026 to FY2027 change.** FY 2027 funding increase supports the start of the Future Group 4+ UAS S/VTOL program as well as new iterations of BDE assets. This funding was realigned from PE 0604113A - Future Tactical Unmanned Aircraft System (FTUAS), Project EX8 - Future Unmanned Aircraft System (FUAS).

## Funding

| Fiscal Year | Estimate Type | Amount ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| FY2027 | Request | 389.6 |

> 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 A5C

- [Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Demonstration and Experimentation efforts](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0605345A/A5C/a0) — FY2027 83.2
- [Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Engineering/Program Management](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0605345A/A5C/a1) — FY2027 13.9

## Source & machine access

- **Source:** FY2027 Department of the Army RDT&E Budget Justification, Exhibit R-2A, PE 0605345A project A5C (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.*