Aerospace Vehicle Technologies

The Aerospace Vehicle Technologies program (PE 0602201F) is an Air Force applied research initiative focused on advancing the science and technology underpinning next-generation aerospace vehicles. The program's primary goals are to investigate, develop, and analyze technologies in high-speed systems, autonomy and flight control, aeromechanics, structural systems, and nuclear system technology. These efforts are intended to support the development of affordable, capable, and survivable aerospace platforms for future military needs. The program is managed under Budget Activity 2 (Applied Research), which emphasizes feasibility studies and technology maturation rather than direct system acquisition.

Structures (Project 622401) aims to develop advanced structural concepts that leverage new materials and fabrication processes. The objectives include reducing design and testing costs, creating lightweight and adaptive structures, and integrating subsystem hardware directly into airframes. This project also explores next-generation aerodynamic technologies and integration techniques to efficiently combine propulsion, weapons, and subsystems into air vehicles. In FY 2025, all work under this project was transferred to the Aerospace Propulsion program (PE 0602203F) to enhance integration across airframe, propulsion, and related systems.

Flight Controls and Pilot-Vehicle Interface (Project 622403) is dedicated to developing advanced control, automation, and autonomy technologies for manned, remotely piloted, and autonomous aerospace vehicles. The project's objectives include maximizing vehicle performance, enabling safe manned-unmanned teaming, and improving modeling and simulation tools for flight control systems. These technologies are crucial for the reliability and effectiveness of current and future autonomous and hypersonic aircraft. As with Structures, this project's activities were transferred to Aerospace Propulsion in FY 2025 for greater cross-disciplinary integration.

Aeromechanics (Project 622404) focuses on the development of advanced aerodynamic configurations and modeling methods for a wide range of aerospace vehicles. The project's goals are to mature fast, affordable aerodynamic prediction tools and to demonstrate multidisciplinary advances in integrating airframe, propulsion, weapons, and control systems. The project supports the design of revolutionary and affordable aerospace vehicles by improving simulation and integration capabilities. Starting in FY 2025, this project was also consolidated under Aerospace Propulsion.

High Speed Systems Technology (Project 622405) investigates technologies for expendable and reusable high-speed and hypersonic aerospace vehicles. The objectives include developing high-temperature structures, advanced aerodynamic configurations, and subsystem integration for hypersonic platforms. The project supports future high-speed weapons, intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance systems, and space access vehicles. In FY 2024, congressional adds supported collaborative hypersonic demonstrations and the development of full-scale determinant assemblies for hypersonic airframe structures. Like other projects, High Speed Systems Technology was transferred to Aerospace Propulsion in FY 2025.

Nuclear System Technology (Project 625172) provides science and technology support to preserve nuclear deterrence capabilities. The project develops modeling and simulation tools for nuclear re-entry systems, advances seismic monitoring and anomaly detection, and supports the development and testing of hypersonic re-entry vehicles and related payloads. In FY 2026, this project was transferred to the Nuclear Delivery Systems Technology Exploration program (PE 0602336F) to improve transparency and traceability within the nuclear science and technology portfolio. Congressional adds in FY 2025 included support for automated low-cost aerostructure mass production.