Unmanned Aerial Systems Launched Effects Agile Systems Development

Mission — Unmanned Aerial Systems Launched Effects Agile Systems Development source

This capability portfolio provides support to the Army's UAS Priority to deliver cutting-edge technology and rapidly evolving critical capabilities. Project A46 - Long Range Precision Munition (LRPM) is the lethal variant of the Launched Effects (LE) Family of Systems which provide a range of capabilities through variations of platforms, payloads, and mission systems. LE provides tactical and operational flexibility through collaboration of heterogeneous groups of LE launched from multiple domains (land and air) in conjunction with other manned platforms, C2, unmanned systems, and sensors throughout the operational environment. The ability to interoperate and coordinate with other LE systems at long ranges and adapt to changing threats is a core concept of the Launched Effects Abbreviated Capability Development Document validated in June 2024. The primary target set for LRPM is Integrated Air Defense Systems. LRPM will provide Army Aviation and Ground Forces with a precise long range munition system to rapidly respond in a combat environment to improve the lethality and stand-off of Warfighters and aviation platforms in an Anti-Access Area Denial (A2AD) and positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) denied environment. Project A49 - Lethal Semi-Autonomous Aerial Unmanned System - Engineering Development: This project focuses on engineering and material development in support of the acquisition program for an enduring capability with Low Altitude Strike and Stalk Ordnance (LASSO) CDD which was approved in AUG24. Infantry Brigade Combat Teams (IBCTs) lack adequate organic capabilities at echelon to apply immediate, point, long range, and direct fire effects to destroy tanks, light armored vehicles, hardened targets, defilade, and personnel targets, while producing minimal collateral damage in complex terrain in all environmental conditions. Development will focus on the Fire Control Stations (FCS), All-Up Round (AUR), and System Architecture. Develop technology for incorporation into the CDD update, for the Program of Record, and conduct tech enhancements from current global conflicts. The funding contained within this budget line and project will be used to conduct evaluations of technologies and capabilities in the loitering munitions capability space, hardware and system architecture engineering and integration activities, and testing and evaluation activities. LASSO is aligned to the Army Transformation Initiative (ATI) and the SECDEF memorandum "Army Transformation and Acquisition Reform" directing the fielding of long-range missiles capable of striking moving targets by 2027. LASSO is awarding up to four hardware contacts to modernize the industrial base and generate domestic ammunition stockpiles. In addition, LASSO is supporting OSD Replicator and Transformation in Contact (TiC) in support of Ino-Pacific efforts to expand prepositioned stocks and increase deployments and exercises to strategic presence in the region. LASSO program will use Other Transaction Authority (OTA) for contracting to field critical technologies more quickly. Project A50 - Soldier Borne Sensor (SBS): The SBS is a small unmanned aerial vehicle. The SBS provides a near term solution to three Army War-fighting Challenges at the Infantry Squad level: develop situational understanding, conduct air-ground reconnaissance, and conduct joint combined arms maneuver. The system is simple to deploy and use to support the squad leader's decision-making process. The system allows Soldiers to obtain local situational awareness and understanding of their immediate surroundings while remaining in covered or concealed positions. The SBS program will be procured through multiple phases. The program will develop, integrate, and qualify additional capabilities for each phase. Funding in this project aligns with the Army's priorities in support of Army Transformation Initiative (ATI). Project A51 - Small Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (SUAS) are critical aviation assets that increase lethality and security through organic aerial reconnaissance, surveillance, and targeting capabilities for battalion and below echelons. SUAS enhances situational awareness and force protection for maneuver elements operating in complex environments by providing real-time Full Motion Video (FMV) and sensor data through a variety of modular sensors. These multifaceted capabilities enable Army formations to leverage the air-ground littoral to project combat power across domains, disrupt near-peer threats, secure key terrain, and support mission success through persistent overwatch. Leveraging a Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA), SUAS platforms are designed for rapid adaptation through swappable payloads, advanced autonomous flight capabilities, and scalable software-ensuring relevance against both current and emerging operational threats. Project A52 - Unmanned Aircraft Systems Universal Products: Universal Vehicle Control (UVC) is a permissions-based software control suite used by Soldiers to simultaneously control multiple, disparate types of uncrewed or optionally-manned aircraft and payloads through a universal interface with scalable levels of authority. UVC distributes Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) capabilities by greatly increasing the number of UAS control devices available to Soldiers, Commanders, and Battle Staff. UVC provides simultaneous employment of multiple aircraft/payloads from a single control node. UVC leverages a Modular Open System Approach (MOSA) to software in order to reduce time and cost to integrate new hardware and software in response to the dynamic future operating environment. The FY 2026 cost of the Long Range Precision Munition (LRPM) Middle Tier of Acquisition effort is $23.2 million, including RDT&E and procurement of prototype units. The Department will certify FYDP funding in a future budget submission.

Mission — Long Range Precision Munition (LRPM) source

Long Range Precision Munition (LRPM) is the lethal variant of the Launched Effects (LE) Family of Systems which provide a range of capabilities through variations of platforms, payloads, and mission systems. LE provides tactical and operational flexibility through collaboration of heterogeneous groups of LE launched from multiple domains (land and air) in conjunction with other manned platforms, C2, unmanned systems, and sensors throughout the operational environment. The ability to interoperate and coordinate with other LE systems at long ranges and adapt to changing threats is a core concept of the Launched Effects Abbreviated Capability Development Document validated in June 2024. The primary target set for LRPM is Integrated Air Defense Systems. LRPM will provide Army Aviation and Ground Forces with a precise long range munition system to rapidly respond in a combat environment to improve the lethality and stand-off of Warfighters and aviation platforms in an Anti-Access Area Denial (A2AD) and positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) denied environment. FY 2026 funding includes lethal munition prototyping, system environmental and safety qualification and airworthiness testing, technology integration, and program planning. The FY 2026 cost of the Long Range Precision Munition (LRPM) Middle Tier of Acquisition effort is $23.2 million, including RDT&E and procurement of prototype units. The Department will certify FYDP funding in a future budget submission.

Mission — Lethal Semi-Autonomous Aerial Unmanned Sys-Eng Dev source

Project A49 - Lethal Semi-Autonomous Aerial Unmanned System - Engineering Development: This project focuses on engineering and material development in support of the acquisition program for an enduring capability with Low Altitude Strike and Stalk Ordnance (LASSO) CDD which was approved in AUG24. Infantry Brigade Combat Teams (IBCTs) lack adequate organic capabilities at echelon to apply immediate, point, long range, and direct fire effects to destroy tanks, light armored vehicles, hardened targets, defilade, and personnel targets, while producing minimal collateral damage in complex terrain in all environmental conditions. Development will focus on the Fire Control Stations (FCS), All-Up Round (AUR), and System Architecture. Develop technology for incorporation into the CDD update, for the Program of Record, and conduct tech enhancements from current global conflicts. The funding contained within this budget line and project will be used to conduct evaluations of technologies and capabilities in the loitering munitions capability space, hardware and system architecture engineering and integration activities, and testing and evaluation activities. Funding in this project aligns with the Army's priorities in support of the Army Transformation Initiative (ATI).

Mission — Soldier Borne Sensor (SBS) source

Soldier Borne Sensor (SBS) is a small unmanned aerial vehicle. The SBS provides a near term solution to three Army War-fighting Challenges at the Infantry Squad level: develop situational understanding, conduct air-ground reconnaissance, and conduct joint combined arms maneuver. The system is simple to deploy and use to support the squad leader's decision-making process. The system allows Soldiers to obtain local situational awareness and understanding of their immediate surroundings while remaining in covered or concealed positions. The SBS program will be procured through multiple phases. The program will develop, integrate, and qualify additional capabilities for each phase. Funding in this project aligns with the Army's priorities in support of Army Transformation Initiative (ATI).

Mission — Small Unmanned Aircraft System source

The Family of Small Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (FoSUAS) are critical to the Army's Transformation in Contact effort. These systems ensure Army formations have the best existing and emerging technology at Battalion and below to allow ground-based forces to project power from land into other domains to defeat highly capable enemies, secure terrain, and consolidate gains. The Rucksack Portable Uncrewed Aircraft System (RPUAS) FoSUAS requirements are transitioning to the Joint Small Uncrewed Aircraft System Capability Development Document (J-sUAS CDD) to solve current and emergent operational gaps by incorporating a 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. The systems provide an organic and 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) efforts. The system has an aircraft weight of less than 5 lbs, a range of 3-5 km, and an endurance of 30 minutes. The system includes modular payloads, obstacle avoidance, target recognition, automated following, and networked capability. The Medium Range Reconnaissance (MRR) System will be informed by the Company Level small UAS Directed Requirement and provides Company level Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) capability within the Brigade Combat Teams. The systems will have a minimum 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 will provide organic maneuver battalions an uncrewed air vehicle designed to support RSTA efforts. The system will have an aircraft weight of less than 55 lbs, a range of 40-60 km and endurance of 5-10 hours. System will include 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. JTAARS enables maneuver by reducing the tactical force's dependence on ground lines of communication and sustainment, reducing threats to manned convoys and manned aerial systems, lightening Soldier load, and shrinking the supply chain. JTAARS provides a lift capability of 125 lbs over 13 km one way (26 km round trip). The Purpose Built Attritable System (PBAS) provides organic maneuver platoons an uncrewed air vehicle designed to support the ability to achieve lethal effects. PBAS shall have a range of at least 2 km and 15 minutes of endurance. The PBAS system consists of First Person Viewer (FPV) goggles, controller, leader display, two 10" air vehicles and four 5" air vehicles with modular payload(s) to include ability to integrate and employ a variety of lethal/non-lethal armaments and munitions.

Mission — Unmanned Aircraft Systems Universal Products source

Universal Vehicle Control (UVC) is a permissions-based software control suite used by Soldiers to simultaneously control multiple, disparate types of uncrewed or optionally-manned aircraft and payloads through a universal interface with scalable levels of authority. UVC distributes UAS capabilities by greatly increasing the number of UAS control devices available to Soldiers, Commanders, and Battle Staff. SCI provides simultaneous employment of multiple aircraft/payloads from a single control node. UVC leverages a Modular Open System Approach (MOSA) to software in order to reduce time and cost to integrate new hardware and software in response to the dynamic future operating environment. Deployment of UVC includes devices in the Mobile/Handheld Computing Environment (such as Nett Warrior), Mounted Computing Environment such as Mounted Family of Computer Systems (MFoCS), Command Post Computing Environment such as Tactical Services Infrastructure (TSI), fixed wing aircraft, and rotary wing aircraft. UVC will integrate decision aiding, autonomy, and artificial intelligence improvements as they technically mature, in order to support Multi-Domain Operations and reduce cognitive workload.

Accomplishments & Planned Programs (8)