Expeditionary Loitering Munitions

The Expeditionary Loitering Munitions program is a Navy initiative under budget line item 1776, focused on rapidly procuring and fielding both air and surface loitering munition systems to meet urgent requirements from Geographic Combatant Commands. The primary objective of this portfolio is to provide the Navy and Marine Corps with expeditionary, deployable munitions capable of supporting distributed operations in contested environments. The program leverages prior development efforts, including work by the Office of Naval Research (ONR) under the Innovative Naval Prototype (INP), and aims to integrate commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) solutions with government-owned autonomous software and auxiliary systems.

Air System Loitering Munitions are a major component of this line item. The goal for the air system is to transition from Low-Rate Initial Production (LRIP) to Full-Rate Production (FRP), expanding the industrial base by integrating government-developed technology with various vendor platforms. The air system is designed to be rapidly deployable by small teams, supporting a variety of operational scenarios. Procurement activities include the acquisition of air system materials, production of air system platforms, procurement of air-launched munitions, and ongoing software development for both legacy and new vendor integration.

This investment is intended to ensure the Navy can deliver a scalable, flexible loitering munition capability that keeps pace with evolving threats and operational requirements. By focusing on rapid deployment and integration with multiple platforms, the air system supports distributed operations and enhances the Navy's ability to respond to emerging challenges.

Surface System Loitering Munitions represent the second major focus of the program. The surface system has transitioned from ONR-led research to Low-Rate Initial Production, with procurement efforts centered on acquiring surface system materials and initiating production contracts. The surface system is intended to provide persistent, autonomous strike capability from maritime or littoral platforms, supporting distributed maritime operations and enhancing the Navy's ability to project power in denied environments.

The budget includes mandatory funding specifically for the procurement of Expeditionary Loitering Munition Surface, as detailed in Section 20005 (Low-Cost Weapons) of the Reconciliation Exhibit. This approach supports the Navy's broader strategy for distributed lethality and operational flexibility.

The procurement strategy for both air and surface systems emphasizes rapid fielding, leveraging mature commercial technologies, and integrating government-owned autonomy software. Contracts have been awarded primarily to Raytheon (Tucson, AZ) for air system materials and munitions, with additional vendors being considered for surface system materials. The program uses a combination of single-source and competitive contracting approaches, focusing on increasing production capacity and meeting Joint Emergent Operational Need (JEON) quantity requirements. Procurement quantities and funding levels have been adjusted year-over-year to reflect production maturity, delivery requirements, and the transition of some support activities to other Navy accounts.

Software development and integration are ongoing objectives within the program. The Navy is investing in spiral software development to support both legacy systems and new vendor integrations, ensuring that the loitering munitions remain adaptable and interoperable with evolving Navy and Marine Corps operational concepts. In FY 2026, some software development efforts are shifting to Research, Development, Test & Evaluation (RDT&E) funding, while maintenance for legacy systems transitions to Operations & Maintenance, Navy (OMN) accounts.

The justification for the Expeditionary Loitering Munitions program is rooted in the need for flexible, rapidly deployable strike options that can operate in contested and distributed environments. By fielding both air and surface loitering munitions, the Navy seeks to enhance its ability to conduct persistent surveillance, targeting, and strike missions in support of distributed maritime operations and expeditionary advanced base operations. The program also aims to strengthen the domestic industrial base for autonomous munitions and reduce reliance on single vendors by integrating government-owned technology across multiple platforms.