Future Naval Capabilities Advanced Technology Development

The Future Naval Capabilities Advanced Technology Development (PE 0603673N) program, managed by the Office of Naval Research (ONR), is designed to ensure the technological superiority of U.S. Naval forces by delivering advanced technology solutions to meet identified operational requirements. This program element supports the transition of promising applied research into advanced development, focusing on accelerating technology insertion into Programs of Record (PORs) through structured coordination with acquisition stakeholders, operating forces, and combat capability development organizations.

The program leverages competitive selection to prioritize projects with the highest potential impact for warfighters. It aims to address capability gaps in key naval warfare areas.

Capable Manpower (CMP) focuses on advanced technology development for training and personnel management. Key objectives include completing a project that delivers modeling capabilities and software to simulate Manpower, Personnel, Training, and Education (MPTE) behavior, and supporting the transition to system development activities. Another project continues development of a prototype integrating leadership assessment and personnel data, aiming to optimize talent management through advanced analytics and large-scale data testing. These efforts are intended to enhance training environments and accelerate learning for Navy personnel.

Expeditionary Maneuver Warfare (EMW) targets technologies supporting naval mine warfare, mine countermeasures, and maneuver operations. Projects are advancing through prototype development, system integration, and field testing. These initiatives aim to improve mine delivery, countermeasure effectiveness, and resilient communications for expeditionary forces, with a focus on transitioning mature technologies to acquisition programs.

Air Warfare (AW) advances capabilities in electronic warfare, radar, unmanned systems, and airframe protection. Notable projects include coordinated airborne electronic attack, optimized airborne radar, advanced sonobuoy arrays, and maritime effector propulsion. The program also supports machine learning-driven inspection, robust recovery technologies, and corrosion protection schemes. These efforts involve hardware and software prototyping, flight testing, and integration with tactical platforms to improve air combat effectiveness and survivability.

Information Warfare (IW) is developing advanced detection, classification, cyber defense, and network optimization technologies. Projects are focused on enhancing electronic warfare, data security, and operational decision support. New starts in FY 2026 address evolving threats and operational requirements, including countermeasure subsystems, collaborative cyber capabilities, offboard decoy control, gravity navigation, and intra-theater logistics optimization.

Surface Warfare (SW) supports mission visualization, network analysis, and operator training in contested environments. Projects are advancing through software development, hardware prototyping, and operational testing to enhance surface combat capabilities. These include prototype integration, dynamic targeting aids, advanced radar processing, non-kinetic effectiveness, predictive engagement automation, and new efforts in AI-driven missile/sensor management, autonomous UxS decision-making, joint beam control for lasers, data analysis pipelines, and phased array algorithms.

Undersea Warfare (UW) encompasses improvements in submarine propulsion, acoustic sensing, communications, and undersea weapons. Projects focus on manufacturing, testing, and integration of advanced components to improve undersea platform performance and survivability. Efforts include improved propulsion bearings, multi-material propellers, acoustic monitoring, gravity-aided navigation, networking prototypes, stern area system algorithms, antenna/aperture development, wide arc profilers, and advanced steel testing.

S&T Campaigns consolidates Innovative Naval Prototype (INP) efforts, supporting high-risk, high-payoff technologies with disruptive potential. Major INPs involve high-power microwave defense, undersea warfare, long-range targeting, autonomous long-range systems, manned-autonomous teaming, classified information warfare efforts, precision fire control, hypersonic structures, and laser weapon systems. These projects involve prototype development, system integration, and field experimentation to validate operational concepts and inform future acquisition strategies.

Congressional Adds fund specific research initiatives not included in the main program, such as carbon nanotube integration, advanced energetics, electronic maneuver warfare sensors, automated acoustic signal classifiers, and real-time undersea monitoring for shipping channels. These projects support targeted technology demonstrations and integration efforts, often leading to at-sea testing and validation of new capabilities.