Technology Maturation Initiatives

Tactical Navigation Warfare (NAVWAR) Plexus supports the technology maturation and integration of NAVWAR Situational Awareness technologies into Electronic Warfare and field artillery systems. This effort incorporates NAVWAR sensors, data fusion algorithms, and decision-making software to maintain Army Fires capabilities in Global Positioning System degraded and denied environments. NAVWAR sensor interfaces will be modernized to comply with open system standards and their data will be processed through fusion algorithms to produce a real time Common Operating Picture (COP) of the NAVWAR environment. This COP will be distributed to the Fires Command and Control system to optimize the performance of field artillery in degraded environments.

This effort will prototype Artificial Intelligence (AI) software/algorithms and hardware for AI-Enabled Command and Control (C2) Common Operating Picture (COP) / decision-support for Multi-Domain Operations at multiple echelons. Increased speed and accuracy of decision making will be demonstrated thru integration of AI-enabled decision support technologies that are emerging from Science and Technology programs and existing C2 systems used across warfighting functions and domains.

This effort supports experimental prototypes to demonstrate high priority capability to provide mid to large caliber weapon platforms a real time 360-degree situational awareness (SA) and sensor input to the targeting / firing control systems. This effort will prototype a common architecture and interface kit containing infrared/radio frequency (IR/RF) sensors to ensure interoperability and sustainment across platforms. This effort is needed to enable a timely start of common architecture and interface definitions and interface hardware development that supports a platform agnostic prototype demonstration of 360-degree sensing system for fire control and SA across dynamic battlefield conditions. The cited work is consistent with the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering priority focus areas and the Army Modernization Strategy.

Technology maturation efforts focused on current and future all-domain intelligence and sensing capabilities which include multi-modal sensor systems, sensing architecture and advanced process and dissemination to improve to support the synchronization and optimization of intelligence collection, processing/dissemination activities and sensor-to-shooter activities. Additionally, these efforts support both the Army All-Domain Sensing modernization priorities. Efforts are aligned to programs within the executive offices of Intelligence Electronic Warfare & Sensors, and Command Control Communications and Networks.

Technology maturation efforts focused on current and future comprehensive weapons system platforms which include munitions and formations that improve range, lethality, mobility, precision, target acquisition and force protection capabilities within multi-domain operations. Additionally, these efforts support the Army modernization priorities for long- range precision fires (LRPF) as well as air and missile defense (AMD). Efforts are aligned to programs within the executive office of Missile and Space, and the joint executive office Armaments & Ammunition.

Technology maturation efforts focused on integrated Soldier, Squad weapon platforms, Force protection, and Expeditionary energy and sustainment. These efforts mature solutions that enhance integrated Soldier capabilities through their equipment, personal sustainment, performance as well as scalable, and affordable expeditionary energy, force sustainment, and contingency basing capabilities. Additionally, this effort supports the Soldier Lethality modernization priority. Efforts are aligned to programs within the executive offices of Soldier; Combat Support and Combat Service Support; Chemical Biological Radiological and Nuclear Defense; and the joint program office for Armaments and Ammunition.

Technology maturation efforts focused on Army manned and unmanned ground and aviation platforms to improve maneuverability, range, speed, payload capacity, mission systems, survivability, reliability, and reduced logistical footprint. Additionally, these efforts support both the Army Future Vertical Lift and Next Generation Combat Vehicles modernization priorities. Efforts are aligned to programs within the executive offices of Aviation, Ground Combat Systems; Combat Support & Combat Service Support; and the joint program executive office, Armaments and Ammunition.

Technology maturation efforts will prototype integrated system of hardware, software and infrastructure that is sufficiently mobile, reliable, user-friendly, discreet in signature, expeditionary and appropriate for any environment where the electromagnetic spectrum is denied or degraded. It also focuses on dependable communication or assured position, navigation, and timing; it covers virtual and immersive Common Operation Environments in support of faster decision making. These efforts support the Army modernization priority for future systems and enabling areas for assured positioning, navigation, timing, and synthetic training environments. Efforts are aligned to programs within the executive offices of Command Control Communications and Networks, Intelligence Electronic Warfare & Sensors, and Simulation, Training and Instrumentation.

Technology maturation efforts will prototype a family of key components and systems for EW, deep sensing and C-UAS scaling from small form factor applications, such as remote sensing and soldier borne to platform based and other long-range applications. Commonality (such as hardware, algorithms, and techniques) across the family of systems provides the ability to adapt to rapidly evolving operational environments. The cited work is consistent with the Army Modernization Strategy to pace the rapidly evolving threat and support the Army's All-Domain Sensing modernization priorities. Efforts are aligned to programs within the executive offices of Intelligence Electronic Warfare & Sensors

This effort leverages commercial technologies to prototype critical common Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) electronics and key system components capable of supporting multiple Army UAS platforms scaling from soldier borne up to long range applications. This effort provides hardware and algorithm commonality across platforms and the ability to adapt to rapidly evolving operational environments. The critical common electronics, components, and algorithms prototyped under this effort will focus on propulsion, communication, navigation, and system processing. Prototypes will be evaluated using multiple Army/Blue UAS platforms. The cited work is consistent with the Army Modernization Strategy and addressing the rapidly evolving threat.

Partnering with the Army PEO-IEW&S Tactical Exploitation of National Capabilities (TENCAP) and leveraging prior work from PE 0603766A / Tactical Electronics Surveillance Systems - Adv Dev, this effort is a TMI Technology Prototyping Effort (prototyping higher risk / higher impact technologies to validate functionality) for transition to Army TENCAP fielding of capability. This effort Addressing the ongoing requirements to ensure that the Army's ability to exploit National and Commercial space based ISR and communications, to close the deep-sensing gap in Multi-Domain operations, and to enable rapid targeting of threats / pace the threat.

Expeditionary Field Artillery Sensor (ExFAS) will provide and medium range sensor enabling greater survivability and accuracy for the entire network of field artillery sensors against complex, evolving Rocket, Artillery, and Mortar (RAM) threats. This project will mature and prototype state of the art, dual/multi-band, short-medium range CTA (Counter Target Acquisition) system designed to cover required ranges, while also enabling key survivability and accuracy improvement features through dual/multi-band hardware. Additional technology maturations, including resource optimization techniques, perused within the ExFAS effort will inform and provide risk reduction for of the field artillery radar sensor modernization effort. The effort will culminate with in a live-fire demonstration and component qualification testing.

This effort will prototype the ability to counter threat Group 3 small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) that operate at higher altitudes with significant standoff range. Leveraging existing investments in the Containerized Weapon System (CWS), this project will optimize the operator's Fire Control Station to enable Group 3 sUAS engagement.? The operator's Fire Control Station will provide single operator, automated slew-to-cue, and improved Target Verification System.?? All of which enhance the weapons suite to enable the targeting and defeat of Group 3 sUAS. This effort will culminate in a live-fire experimentation of the prototype system in FY26.

Combination Soldier and Logistics Aerial Insertion will provide Commanders with high altitude, high offset capability for precision insertion of personnel and cargo into enemy denied areas with a reduced probability of detection. This effort will prototype common mission planner and navigation software for all personnel and equipment and integrate radios for communication between personnel and cargo equipment for situational awareness and in-flight contingency operations. This effort will culminate with a demonstration in an operational environment.

Electro-Magnetic Battlespace Shaping and Protection (EM-BSP) will provide an on-demand denial of the electro-magnetic (EM) spectrum to enemy forces at any location on the battlefield supporting Multi-Domain Operations (MDOs). This program will mature and prototype a smoke screen capable of disrupting the EM spectrum to mask, conceal, and preserve combat lethality overmatch. This munition delivered capability will degrade/deny enemy anti-access/area denial systems as well as the enemy's use of the EM spectrum. The overall super-system capability will integrate both hardware and software technology solutions across multiple Programs of Record for combined increased effect. EM-BSP will culminate in a live-fire Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 7 demonstration of the prototype System-of-Systems (SoS).

This effort builds on previous Army science and technology investments in lightweight spaced armor technology for aviation platforms to increase amor protection against worldwide threats while reducing weight, increasing military operating payload for troops, fuel, and munitions. The effort will prototype an advanced armor kit for Future Long Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) compatible with the FLRAA platform design.? The prototype armor will be evaluated on the FLRAA mock-up aircraft to validate ballistic performance and compatibility with FLRAA aircraft requirements.

This effort will prototype enhanced command and control (C2) capabilities, enabling commanders to make faster, more informed decisions. Next Generation Command and Control (NGC2) focuses on building a more agile, adaptable, and modular C2 ecosystem, leveraging technologies like cloud computing, AI, and cybersecurity. This will provide commanders with a common and integrated data layer, allowing them to effectively manage operations across the force.

This effort provides a tiered evaluation and feasibility application of innovation and disruptive technologies to Army capability gaps. This effort will prototype integration of emerging data fabrics across Service, Combatant Commands (CCMD) and sub-organizational commands to allow interchangeable command and control (C2) of remote operations across echelons (allow echelon tasking and ISR sensor data collection/data share) of autonomously operated ground and air system platforms. The system will also expand hybrid power source alternatives that support the platform, mission, and autonomous system power requirements. This effort will address architecture gaps for the coordination of kinetic / non-kinetic effects and optimization of algorithms to enhance their effects.

This effort leverages commercial 5G radio, data System on a Chip (SoC) technologies, cellular network technologies to prototype a common software defined radio capable of supporting multiple military waveforms and advanced/secure multi-channel networks. This replaces multiple radios/electronic systems with low Size, Weight, and Power (SWaP) equipment for communications/operations across multiple secure military communication networks and systems, and hardware commonality across platforms. Prototypes will be evaluated supporting multiple Army Warfighter functions and operations. The cited work is consistent with the Army Modernization Strategy and the Army Integrated Tactical Network Capability Sets.

Complex terrain, clutter, and countermeasures can challenge Cannon Delivered Area Effects Munition (C-DAEM) Armor and supporting Fires System-of-Systems (SoS) solutions, and reduce munition effectiveness. Collaborative Links for Integrated Fires (CLIF) leverages prior algorithm and software efforts to prototype image-based navigation, multi-agent autonomous target recognition (ATR) and optimized munition-target assignment in a Fires SoS solution. This effort will enable more efficient volley fires reducing shoot and move time, rounds to defeat, and the logistics burden while improving fire team capacity. The CLIF approach is modular and enables the rapid integration of new seeker and collaborative modalities to outpace emerging threats.

Solid State-High Powered Microwave (SS-HPM) will mature and prototype a mission kit consisting of source and emitter for technical insertion into the Indirect Fire Protection Capability-High Power Microwave (IFPC-HPM) program's prototype system. SS-HPM System will mature solid state technologies intended for Counter-Unmanned Aerial System applications (focusing on groups and swarms) and provide indirect fire protection capabilities with increased range, reliability, and lower costs.

Optical Threat Detection builds on Army Research Development Technology & Experimentation investments in Pre-Shot technologies to prototype detecting threats beyond their effective weapons range. The effort will mature and prototype an automated operation of the system to utilize onboard sensors and provide cues of potential targets to users for evaluation of the threat. The Optical Threat Detection system will provide a multi-band solution to rapidly locate enemy optical targeting or surveillance systems in support of On-The-Move operations. This effort will incorporate adaptable architecture for integration of future technology (i.e., sensors and algorithms) as new capabilities emerge.

The Army currently relies on metal for small caliber cartridge casings. Polymer-based casings offer the potential to achieve significant weight reductions that can be applied to future and legacy systems. This effort will mature and prototype lightweight polymers and casing design solutions for use in extreme military operational environments. The polymer-based casings will reduce the tactical weight burden on the warfighter, reduce transit costs, and increase lethality across all operational environments.

The Lethality Smart Systems (LSS) is the next generation weapon targeting sensor for use on the Next Generation Squad Weapon (NGSW) which provides additional situational awareness and lethality by wirelessly interfacing to other Soldier devices. This effort will mature and prototype the LSS weapon sight system to evaluate improved reliability, achieving weapon shock requirements of the NGSW and implement interoperability between the latest version of the Intra Soldier Wireless (ISW) protocol to both the Enhanced Night Vision Goggle -Binocular (ENVG-B) and Integrated Visual Augmentation System (IVAS). Additionally, LSS will provide improved system interfacing and capabilities at a reduced Size, Weight and Power (SWaP).

The current RADAR sensor (VADER) was designed for counterinsurgency operations limiting the effectiveness against near-peer threats. This effort will mature wide-band, multi-function RF, aperture technology developed under Army Science and Technology (S&T) to deliver an advanced payload that significantly increases range, accuracy and survivability of current airborne surveillance radar systems to the High Accuracy Detection and Exploitation System (HADES) program. This effort will integrate an advanced payload into a digital radar with an open architecture radar backend to facilitate integration of advanced algorithms and advanced operational modes to the HADES system.

This effort will build on previous Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) All Source Positioning and Navigation (ASPN), and Seeker Cost Transformation (SECTR) vision based navigation technology efforts, as well as the Army Aviation and Missile Center's (AvMC) current efforts under the Future Vertical Lift Cross Functional Team (FVL CFT) and Program Executive Office Aviation's efforts focused on low altitude vision based navigation (VBN) to deliver a full government owned navigation system in small size, weight, and power (SWaP) for tactical Unmanned Aerial Systems. DARPA SECTR is a production prototype that has been demonstrated in cross country flight and currently works at altitudes of 1000+feet. This effort will extend the technology to all operational altitudes, and miniaturize and ruggedize the technology. This effort will be part of an overall Assured Position Navigation and Timing (APNT) solution that will enable the use of FTUAS and Air Launched Effects in Global Positioning System (GPS) denied environments.

This effort will develop a new variant of the LE Family of Systems focused on protection of the crewed helicopter fleet in contested environments. The effort will mature multispectral payloads that offload survivability and targeting functions from crewed platforms.

Autonomous Operations for Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS) will provide Army aircraft reconnaissance, targeting and weapon options to engage and defeat threat targets at standoff. It will provide crewed and uncrewed aircraft capabilities to operate dispersed as part of the larger collaborative lethality network or as autonomous contributors for reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition (RSTA).

The TS-ER Seeker will combine advances made by the Strategic Capabilities Office, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Air Force, and Army in the fields of airframes, electronics, and seeker technologies to enable: extended range performance from 70km to 150km by integrating with advanced airframes; decrease risk of performance against red force countermeasures from medium to low by improving Automatic Target Recognition capability; improve munition terminal effects against armored targets and Integrated Air Defense Systems by enhancing munition accuracy. These seeker technologies will be integrated with the XM1155 Extended Range Artillery Projectile, with the requirement to prosecute moving or relocated targets in Global Positioning System denied environments at extended ranges (150km in accordance with the Cannon Delivered Area Effects Munition (C-DAEM) draft Capabilities Development Document). Enhanced seeker technologies will be critical in enabling munition performance at these ranges with high target location error.

This effort supports experimental prototypes to demonstrate M-Code Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver capability on a commercially available System on Chip (SoC). This effort will prototype mounted, dismounted, and munition GPS receiver reference designs to be used for testing and evaluation and then insertion into Army Programs of Record. This effort will also include security certification through Space Force to handle the required encryption keys. The cited work is consistent with the Army Modernization Strategy.