Aerospace Technology Dev/Demo

Mission — Aerospace Technology Dev/Demo source

This program supports Department of Defense (DoD) priorities for Aerospace Systems demonstrations to include high-speed systems and autonomous collaborative platforms. System level integration and demonstration of advanced aerospace system technologies (autonomy, propulsion, power and thermal, air vehicle, fuels, etc.) in a near-realistic operational environment enhance performance and supportability of existing and future aerospace systems while reducing the risk and time required to transition technologies into operational aircraft. Additionally, this program supports the nuclear enterprise and nuclear deterrence through advanced component and technology demonstrations. Projects in this program have been coordinated through the DoD Science and Technology (S&T) Executive Committee process to harmonize efforts and eliminate duplication. The program has six current projects, each focusing on technologies with a high potential to enhance the performance of existing and future Air Force weapon systems via modeling, simulation, and analysis while utilizing digital engineering to accelerate and enhance the S&T development. - Missile Rocket Propulsion Integration and Demonstration: Develops and demonstrates innovative rocket propulsion technologies, propellants, and manufacturing techniques for strategic and tactical systems to reduce costs, schedule, and increase performance. - Next Gen Platform Dev/Demo: Supports the nuclear enterprise and nuclear deterrence through advanced component and technology demonstrations. - Flight Vehicle Tech Integration: Develops and demonstrates aerospace vehicle technology to enhance the capability of current and future aerospace systems with current focus on autonomous collaborative platform capabilities. - Aircraft Propulsion Subsystems Integration: Develops and demonstrates propulsion technology to increase warfighting capability by advancing engine operational reliability and durability, providing mission flexibility, and improved performance while reducing weight, fuel consumption, and cost of ownership. - High-Speed Systems Integration and Demonstration: Develops, demonstrates, and integrates high-speed propulsion capability (to include hypersonic) propulsion, vehicle, and subsystems to enhance and enable high-speed system technology, increasing long range strike capabilities at the speed of critical warfighting capabilities required for near peer competition. - Flight Systems Control: Develops and demonstrates adaptive power and thermal management components, controls and systems for high-power payloads enabling aerospace systems to deliver strike capabilities while integrating autonomy and control technologies to enable affordable mass in the fight and revolutionary autonomous collaborative platform capabilities. In FY 2025, the RDT&E Budget Activity 03 (BA03) Aerospace Propulsion and Power Technology efforts and activities under PE 0603216F, were transferred to PE 0603211F, Aerospace Technology Dev/Demo for increased integration between airframe, flight control, propulsion, electrical, power and thermal management. In FY 2025, the entirety of PE 0603216F, Aerospace Propulsion and Power Technology, Project 633035 Aerospace Power Technology, was transferred to PE 0603211F, Aerospace Technology Dev/Demo, Project 634927 Flight Systems Control. In FY 2025, the entirety of PE 0603216F, Aerospace Propulsion and Power Technology, Project 634093 Missile Rocket Propulsion Integ & Demo, was transferred to PE 0603211F, Aerospace Technology Dev/Demo, Project 634093 Missile Rocket Propulsion Integ & Demo. In FY 2025, the entirety of PE 0603216F, Aerospace Propulsion and Power Technology, Project 634921 Aircraft Propulsion Subsystems Int, was transferred to PE 0603211F, Aerospace Technology Dev/Demo, Project 634921 Aircraft Propulsion Subsystems Int. In FY 2025, the entirety of PE 0603216F, Aerospace Propulsion and Power Technology, Project 635098 Advanced Aerospace Propulsion, was transferred to PE 0603211F, Aerospace Technology Dev/Demo, Project 634926 High-Speed Systems Integ & Demo. Efforts in this program have been coordinated through the Department of Defense (DoD) Science and Technology (S&T) Executive Committee process to harmonize efforts and eliminate duplication. This program element may include necessary civilian pay expenses required to manage, execute, and deliver science & technology (S&T) capabilities. The use of program funds in this program element would be in addition to the civilian pay expenses budgeted in program elements 0601102F, 0602020, 0602102F, 0602202F,0602203F, 0602204F, 0602602F, 0602605F, 0602788F, 0602298F, and 1206601SF. This program element may include necessary expenses to support the operation and maintenance of facilities to manage, execute, and deliver science and technology (S&T) capabilities. The FY 2026 request was reduced by $0.240 million for Advisory and Assistance Services to promote efficiencies and advance the policies of the Administration in alignment with Executive Order 14222, "Implementing the President's Department of Government Efficiency Cost Efficiency Initiative.” This program is in Budget Activity 3, Advanced Technology Development because this budget activity includes development of subsystems and components and efforts to integrate subsystems and components into system prototypes for field experiments and/or tests in a simulated environment.

Mission — Missile Rocket Propulsion Integ & Demo source

This project develops and demonstrates technologies for strategic systems (including solid rocket motor boosters, post boost control, and aging and surveillance efforts) and tactical rockets. Characteristics such as environmental acceptability, affordability, manufacturability, reliability, responsiveness, reduced weight, and reduced operation and launch costs are emphasized. Rapid design, characterization, demonstration, and rapid manufacturing are key goals while ensuring increased life and performance. Technology areas investigated include ground demonstrations of compact, lightweight, advanced propulsion technologies and high-energy propellants. This project demonstrates next generation of physics-based modeling, simulation, and analysis (MS&A) tools for rapid and agile missile propulsion design, analysis, and production, as well as the digital engineering concepts to manage the entire process of design, test, and validation of solid rocket motors. The efforts in this project contribute to the sustainment of the rocket propulsion industry, providing rocket propulsion technology for the Department of Defense (DoD). The efforts in this project are reviewed by a DoD level steering committee annually for relevance to DoD missions. In FY 2025, the entirety of PE 0603216F, Aerospace Propulsion and Power Technology, Project 634093 Missile Rocket Propulsion Integ & Demo, was transferred to PE 0603211F, Aerospace Technology Dev/Demo, Project 634093 Missile Rocket Propulsion Integ & Demo.

Mission — Next Gen Platform Dev/Demo source

This project demonstrates advanced nuclear-related components and technologies in support of the nuclear enterprise and nuclear deterrence operations missions. Next Gen Platform Development/Demonstration efforts are accomplished through development, integration, testing, and evaluation of various technologies to include fuzes, aeroshells, inertial guidance, and nuclear-specific communications for demonstration in near-realistic operational environments. This Project and associated efforts will continue to be executed by the Air Force Research Laboratory Space Vehicles Technology Directorate located in Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico.

Mission — Flight Vehicle Tech Integration source

This project demonstrates advanced aerospace vehicle technologies. Aerospace Vehicle Technology Integration efforts are accomplished through integration of various technologies to include avionics, advanced propulsion, and weapon systems for demonstration in near-realistic operational environments. Advanced aerospace structures technologies are demonstrated to enhance the capability of current and future aerospace vehicles.

Mission — Aircraft Propulsion Subsystems Int source

This project develops and demonstrates technology to increase military utility by improving turbine engine operational reliability, durability, mission flexibility, and performance while reducing weight, fuel consumption, and cost of ownership. This project includes demonstrator engines that address military specific needs for manned systems, autonomous vehicles and munitions applications. This project also focuses on integration of inlets, nozzles, engine- to-airframe compatibility, and power and thermal management subsystems technologies. In FY 2025, the entirety of PE 0603216F, Aerospace Propulsion and Power Technology, Project 634921 Aircraft Propulsion Subsystems Int, was transferred to PE 0603211F, Aerospace Technology Dev/Demo, Project 634921 Aircraft Propulsion Subsystems Int.

Mission — High Speed Systems Integ & Demo source

This project develops, integrates and demonstrates, advanced technologies that enable future high-speed/hypersonic weapons and platforms (vehicles) via modeling, simulation and analysis (MS&A), and ground and flight tests. System level integration brings together air vehicle aerodynamics, propulsion and structural technologies and solutions with avionics, ordnance and other aerospace subsystems for demonstration in a near-realistic operational environment. Integration and technology demonstrations improve the technology readiness level appropriate for full integration and reduce the risk and time required to transition technologies into operational systems. Digital engineering is utilized to develop and deliver an integrated digital environment (IDE) to assess technology, evaluate its impacts, and make capability-focused investment decisions that support critical Air Force revolutionary military capabilities. Efforts include: Development of integration strategies for propulsion operability across multi-Mach flight regimes (including scramjet inlet to nozzle flow-path optimization, high-Mach gas turbine engines, scramjet/dual-mode ramjet combined-cycles, and rocket-based propulsion systems enabling technologies and considerations for protecting low speed propulsion systems during high-speed/hypersonic flight); active engine controls to assure continuous positive thrust (even during mode transition); robust flame-holding to maintain stability through flight-imposed airflow distortions; maximized volume-to-surface area to minimize the thermal load imposed by high-speed flight; high-lift aerodynamic vehicle configurations for improved airframe stability and control across the widest possible range of Mach numbers and flight regimes; thermal management and electrical power systems (including fuel assessments) for improved thermodynamic cycles ensuing longer flight ranges, and enabling unique structural considerations for survivable long-range responsive strike systems. In FY 2025, the entirety of PE 0603216F, Aerospace Propulsion and Power Technology, Project 635098 Advanced Aerospace Propulsion, is transferred to PE 0603211F, Aerospace Technology Dev/Demo, Project 634926 High-Speed Systems Integration & Demo.

Mission — Flight Systems Control source

This project integrates and demonstrates advanced control technologies that improve the performance, reliability, safety, and survivability of existing and future, manned and unmanned, aerospace systems. Enhanced capabilities are enabled by control, automation, and system level integration of subsystems and systems such as propulsion, airframes, avionics, power & thermal management, weapons, C2, mission systems, and operator interfaces. Modeling and simulation, integration, and technology demonstrations in a near-operational environment reduce the risk and time required to transition technologies into existing and future aerospace systems. In FY 2025, the entirety of PE 0603216F, Aerospace Propulsion and Power Technology, Project 633035 Aerospace Power Technology, was transferred to PE 0603211F, Aerospace Technology Dev/Demo, Project 634927 Flight Systems Control.

Accomplishments & Planned Programs (11)