Soldier Systems - Advanced Development

Mission — Small Arms Improvement source

The Small Arms Improvement Advanced Component Development and Prototypes (ACD&P) program provides funds to mature, demonstrate, test and evaluate emerging technology from Budget Activity (BA) 3 Program Element (PE) 0603607A Joint Service Small Arms Program (JSSAP) Project 627 Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), Department of Energy National Laboratories, Research Development & Engineering Centers (RDECs) and other domestic and foreign sources for small arms weapon systems and technology. Small Arms Improvement supports the Army Modernization priorities through enhancement of Joint Lethality in contested environments by minimizing and eliminating erosion of close combat capability relative to peer competitors in complex terrain as outlined in the National Defense Strategy (NDS). Small and medium weapon systems include weapons ranging up to 40 millimeter in caliber, recoilless rifles, remote weapon systems and chain guns. These efforts focus on improving and maturing designs to enhance lethality, target acquisition and tracking, fire control, usability, training effectiveness and reliability improvements to include ammunition and counter unmanned aerial system technologies when developing and/or evaluating standard and non-standard weapon systems. Maturing of technologies through testing and evaluation of sub-system or system prototypes includes lightweight materials, thermal solutions, passive range finders, observation/situational awareness improvements, human-systems integration, robotic armament capability, non-lethal capability, advanced laser protection for optics, and equipment enhancements. Benefits include continuous improvements to small arms weapon systems, remote weapon systems, fire control equipment, optics, gun barrels, training devices, suppressors, component mounts, weapon mounts, ancillary items and weapon/ammunition/fire control interfaces.

Mission — Clothing And Equipment source

Funding in this effort supports Defense Digital Transformation and Army Modernization Priorities to evaluate and integrate technologies and prototypes that expedite Product Manager Soldier Clothing and Individual Equipment (PdM SCIE) technology transitions from the laboratory to operational use. Efforts focus on achieving commonality across all services to provide footwear, uniforms and clothing systems consisting of all layers required to accommodate Warfighters in all environments resulting in integrated systems for the Airborne, Arctic, Arid, Jungle, and Temperate Soldier. PdM SCIE efforts include female Warfighter specific items and sizing. This effort funds the transition of new, improved technologies and domestically available fabrics with capabilities such as Flame Resistance (FR), moisture wicking, vector protection and innovative multi-service efforts to advance camouflage technologies to mitigate multi-spectral signature detection. This effort also funds integration of fabrics, uniforms, load bearing items and Soldier mobility equipment, for use in all environments. PdM SCIE will transition capabilities from our Science and Technology partners to increase performance of Warfighter clothing and equipment and identify emerging technologies to integrate advanced material capabilities into combat uniforms and equipment. Additional advances in existing technologies to improve survivability by focusing on reducing weight and improving performance, mobility and comfort. PdM SCIE will continue to support multi-service commonality and modernization initiatives through technology that enables combat operations and enhances lethality.

Mission — Personnel Airdrop System Development source

Funding in this project supports Army Modernization priorities. Project ET8, Personnel Airdrop System Development, improves Low Altitude and High-Altitude personnel parachutes and associated equipment to include canopy improvement based on integration of new technology with the goal of enhancing the insertion capability and the safety of the airborne Soldier and increasing the performance, reliability, and durability of personnel airdrop equipment. This project will transition capabilities from our Science and Technology partners to increase performance and safety of Soldier equipment. It will continue to support cross-service initiatives to improve commonality.

Mission — Soldier Protective Equipment source

Funding in this project supports the Army Modernization priority. This Project supports efforts to evaluate integrated technologies and representative or prototype systems that help expedite Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) technology transition from the laboratory to operational use. This project will transition capabilities from our Science and Technology partners to increase performance and safety of Soldier protective equipment. This project will continue to support cross-Services initiatives to increase commonality.

Mission — Integrated Soldier Systems Prototyping (SL CFT) source

Develop a long-term Soldier/Squad as a System integration platform in connection with the Close Combat Integration Enterprise (CCIE) to ensure interoperability as part of the integrated Joint Forces. Verify and develop prototype digital engineering tools that provide Systems Engineering, Configuration Management, and Evaluation in a virtual and physical environment. Using enhancements to the Adaptive Squad Architecture (ASA) digital tools verify development of interface controls documents, and connection points to support the rapid integration of the CCIE programs with all other dismounted Soldier equipment. Prototype capabilities for evaluation and integration include new measurements and methodologies from S&T programs and future requirements. Funding for this program aligns with the Army's priorities in support of Digital Engineering and Transformation and is a Soldier Lethality Cross Functional Team priority.

Mission — Soldier Systems - Advanced Development source

A portion of this funding line is directly aligned to the Soldier Lethality Army Modernization Priority. This Program Element (PE), Soldier Systems - Advanced Development, manages the Soldier as a system to increase combat effectiveness, test and deliver tangible products that save Soldiers lives and improve combat capability. The PE provides funding for evaluating, developing, and testing emerging technologies and critical Soldier support systems to reduce technology risk. Project CF2: Develop a long-term Soldier/Squad as a System integration platform ICW the Close Combat Integration Enterprise (CCIE) to ensure interoperability as part of the integrated Joint Forces. Verify and develop prototype digital engineering tools that provide Systems Engineering, Configuration Management, and Evaluation in a virtual and physical environment. Using enhancements to the Adaptive Squad Architecture (ASA) digital tools verify development of interface controls documents, and connection points to support the rapid integration of the CCIE programs with all other dismounted Soldier equipment. Prototype capabilities for evaluation and integration include new measurements and methodologies from S&T programs and future requirements. Funding for this program aligns with the Army's priorities in support of Digital Engineering and Transformation and is a Soldier Lethality Cross Functional Team priority. Project ET8: Personnel Airdrop System improves Low Altitude and High-Altitude personnel parachutes and associated equipment to include canopy improvement based on integration of new technology with the goal of enhancing the insertion capability and safety of the airborne Soldier and increasing the performance, reliability, and durability of personnel airdrop equipment. Project S53: Funding is used to evaluate and integrate technologies and representative or prototype systems that help expedite Soldier Clothing and Individual Equipment technology transition from the laboratory to operational use. Efforts focus on proving out commonality across as broad a spectrum of users as possible to provide a modular, integrated uniform/clothing system from skin out and head-to-toe. It funds efforts to transition new technologies and domestically available fabrics with Flame Resistant (FR), moisture wicking, insect protection and camouflage technologies, including integration of fabrics appropriate for uniforms and equipment used in jungle/tropical and arctic environments. New technologies are identified to monitor health and improve Soldier survivability, reduce weight, and improve affordability, mobility and comfort in combat and training/administrative environments. Includes integration and interface on the Soldier system. Project S54: Small and medium arm weapon systems include weapons ranging up to 40 millimeter in caliber. Funding is used to support Small Arms Improvement and other domestic and foreign sources of small arms weapon systems to demonstrate, test and evaluate capability near or at planned operational requirements. These efforts focus on improvements designed to enhance lethality, target acquisition and tracking, fire control, usability, training effectiveness and reliability of weapons to include ammunition and counter UAS technologies when developing and/or evaluating standard and non-standard weapons. Focus areas include the maturing of technology through testing and evaluation of sub-system or system prototypes which demonstrates lightweight materials, thermal solutions, passive range finders, observation/situational awareness improvements, human-systems integration, robotic armament capability, non-lethal capability, advanced laser protection for optics, and equipment enhancements. Benefits include continuous improvements to small arms weapon systems, remote weapon systems, fire control equipment, optics, gun barrels, training devices, suppressors, component mounts, weapon mounts, ancillary items and weapon/ammunition interface. Project VS4: Supports efforts to evaluate integrated technologies and representative or prototype systems that help expedite Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) technology transition from the laboratory to operational use. The FY 2026 request was reduced by $1.74 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."

Accomplishments & Planned Programs (16)