Biotechnology for Materials - Advanced Research

The Biotechnology for Materials - Advanced Research program is a key Army initiative under Program Element (PE) 0603386A. It focuses on maturing and demonstrating innovative biotechnological methods, processes, and materials to enhance the resilience of the military supply chain. The program is centrally managed by the Army and supports the Tri-Service Biotechnology for a Resilient Supply Chain (T-BRSC) effort, which leverages bio-industrial manufacturing to ensure critical domestic supply chain resilience for defense needs. The objective is to enable domestic production of raw materials and critical products, reducing reliance on foreign sources and enhancing national security.

A major goal of this program is to advance research and development of bio-engineered and biosynthetic materials that can be domestically sourced for use in the defense supply chain. The program supports rapid prototyping and testing of bio-derived materials, optimizing models for the design and bio-security of these materials for various defense applications. The research aligns with the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering priority focus areas and the Army Modernization Strategy. Efforts are coordinated with other related Army programs such as PE 0602386A (Biotechnology for Materials - Applied Research).

The primary line item within this program is CP7: Biotechnology Demonstration and Evaluation, which collaborates with Joint Service partners to mature, optimize, and demonstrate novel biotechnologies and related methods. The objective is to establish a resilient domestic supply chain for defense needs by validating and providing bio-derived, bio-functionalized, and bio-manufactured materials. The project emphasizes high-throughput screening, small-scale prototyping, and the exploitation of biotechnologies to deliver drop-in replacements and materials with enhanced properties for defense applications.

Specific research areas within CP7 include the development of high-density, high-performance fuels for hypersonic weapons, bio-based propellants, optical materials, and bio-derived systems capable of sensing and responding to contaminants. The program also focuses on maturing bio-manufacturing processes for domestic production of high temperature-resistant materials needed for hypersonic defense systems, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and fire-resistant casings for munitions. Additionally, the program demonstrates bio-based non-hazardous cleaning solvents for military platforms and bio-based capabilities for detecting heavy metals in water for point-of-need safety testing in denied combat operational areas.

Another objective is to demonstrate the conversion of in-theater waste streams into critical aviation and ground vehicle materials, optimizing solutions to provide fuel in contested spaces and maintain operational capability. The program also investigates agile biocementation technology to reduce logistics requirements for expeditionary flight-lines, taxiways, rotary aircraft pads, and base logistic foundations. The demonstration of bio-derived optical materials for laser protection of military goggles and sensor systems is another key goal, as is prototyping bioderived non-lethal vessel stopping technology for threat interdiction.

Planned activities for FY 2026 include continued optimization and scale-up of biomolecules for use as energetic materials in hypersonic systems, validation of these materials for enhanced weapon system performance, and further development of bio-manufacturing processes for high temperature-resistant materials. The program will also demonstrate bioderived extraction and separation processes for rare earth elements, scale up bioderived energetic materials for munition systems, and enable bioderived cellulose production for use in propellants and textiles. These efforts are designed to address vulnerabilities in the critical material supply chain and support the Army's modernization and supply chain security goals.

Funding for the program in FY 2026 is reduced due to a narrowing of the portfolio, with the T-BRSC Project Management Office conducting technology down selections to focus on the most promising technologies for advancement. This strategic adjustment ensures that resources are allocated to projects with the highest potential impact for future defense capabilities, in compliance with workforce optimization initiatives and broader Department of Defense efficiency goals.