Advanced Combat Systems Technology

PE 0603382N: Advanced Combat Systems Tech is a Navy Research, Development, Test & Evaluation (RDT&E) program element focused on advancing the technical and business practices for naval combat systems through open architecture and modular design principles. The overarching goal is to enable more affordable, interoperable, and rapidly deployable warfighting capabilities by transitioning legacy and new systems to an Open Systems Architecture (OSA) and Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) in accordance with Department of the Navy policy. This effort is intended to foster innovation, competition, and collaboration across the Navy and Marine Corps, while reducing lifecycle costs and barriers to integration.

0324: Advanced Combat System Technology specifically supports the implementation of the Naval OSA Strategy. Its objectives include developing and standardizing an enterprise reference architecture, providing systems engineering support, and establishing consistent contract language and intellectual property strategies. The program aims to improve transparency in design disclosure, facilitate cross-program reuse, and support portfolio management. Key activities involve prototyping, demonstration, scaling, and integration of OSA capabilities into the Navy's digital engineering environments. There is a particular focus on enhancing test and evaluation, validation, and certification processes for command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, cyber, and IT systems.

OSA Prototyping and Demonstration efforts under Project 0324 focus on developing prototypes and demonstration articles to enable system modeling and architecture work. These activities are coordinated with systems engineering analysis to ensure that OSA standards are effectively integrated into enterprise digital warfighting systems. The program also supports the development of reusable software components, advanced security schemas, and cyber security testing capabilities. The scaling and integration of these prototypes are designed to support both crewed and uncrewed systems, including mission planning aids, AI/ML applications, networking, and data management tools.

3438: Innovative Naval Prototype (INP) Transition (6.4) addresses advanced component development and prototype demonstration for game-changing technologies under the Office of Naval Research's INP and Leap Ahead Technology (LA-Tech) investments. The focus is on disruptive technologies such as unmanned and autonomous systems, directed energy/electric weapons, electromagnetic maneuver warfare, cyber warfare, and undersea warfare. The program funds efforts to evaluate integrated technologies and prototype systems in high-fidelity operating environments, typically at Technology Readiness Levels 6 and 7, to support transformational warfighting capabilities.

9999: Congressional Adds includes targeted investments directed by Congress to accelerate specific technology areas. Notable recent additions include Threat Adaptive Command and Control (Minotaur), Minotaur data dissemination and interoperability, Tier 2.5 low observable (LO) platform inspection systems, and a Universal AI/ML core environment. These efforts focus on improving advanced C2 systems' adaptability, enhancing multi-INT and multi-spectral data fusion, developing platform-agnostic LO inspection capabilities for aircraft and ships, and deploying AI/ML environments for autonomous data fusion and intelligence services.

The Threat Adaptive Command and Control - Minotaur initiative aims to scale advanced C2 technology, reduce reliance on subject matter expertise, and develop digital toolsets for rapid adaptability to emerging threats. It supports the integration and testing of advanced C2 capabilities, algorithmic threat assessment, and multi-source data fusion. Minotaur data dissemination and interoperability projects enhance joint service integration, digital engineering, and collaborative intelligence sharing. The Tier 2.5 LO platform inspection system demonstrates flexible, UAS-enabled inspection technologies for stealth platforms. The Universal AI/ML core environment supports cloud and edge deployment for complex tagging and autonomous data fusion, advancing the Navy's capability to process and analyze large data sets for operational intelligence.

Across all lines, the program leverages partnerships with Navy Warfare Centers, government labs, industry, and academia, utilizing agile contracting and acquisition strategies. The integration of OSA and MOSA principles is intended to improve affordability, innovation, and operational agility, while supporting the Navy's digital transformation and the development of the Naval Operational Architecture. These efforts are closely coordinated with related programs such as Intelligence Mission Data and Modeling & Simulation Support, ensuring a comprehensive approach to modernizing naval combat systems.