Future Tactical Unmanned Aircraft System (FTUAS)

The Future Tactical Unmanned Aircraft System (FTUAS) program, as outlined in Program Element (PE) 0604113A, is a key Army initiative under the Research, Development, Test & Evaluation (RDT&E) budget activity for Advanced Component Development & Prototypes. The primary goal of FTUAS is to deliver transformational reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition (RSTA) capabilities to Brigade Combat Teams (BCTs) through a runway-independent, vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) unmanned aircraft system. This system is designed to enhance operational flexibility, survivability, and expeditionary maneuverability for adaptive and agile operations in multi-domain environments.

The Future Unmanned Aircraft System (FUAS) line item (Project EX8) focuses on the development and integration of advanced unmanned aircraft systems that support multi-domain operations (MDO) from platoon to division levels. The objectives include providing assured position, navigation, and timing (APNT) solutions, secure Type-1 encrypted datalinks, and a modular open systems approach (MOSA) for rapid technology upgrades. The FUAS program also emphasizes reducing operational and support costs by enabling organic sustainment and field-level maintenance by soldiers, minimizing reliance on contractor support. Congressional adds in FY 2024 supported resilient battlefield communications and secure APNT for FTUAS to further enhance system robustness.

The Air Launched Effects (ALE) line item (Project DH3) is dedicated to extending the speed, range, lethality, and survivability of maneuver formations through the integration of air vehicles, mission systems, payloads, and advanced behaviors. ALE is designed to penetrate and disrupt enemy Anti-Access Area Denial (A2AD) environments by employing teaming and swarming tactics, including detection, decoy, jamming, cyber-attack, and kinetic engagement. The FY 2025 plan includes rapid prototyping of short-range variants and launcher capability development for all ALE variants, with a focus on accelerated fielding to meet Army transformation and acquisition reform objectives.

The FTUAS and ALE programs are managed by the Army's Program Manager for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (PM UAS) at Redstone Arsenal, AL, and are being executed under the Department of Defense Capability Based (Agile) Funding pilot. This approach is intended to foster innovation and accelerate the deployment of promising technologies by enabling flexible contracting strategies and incremental capability acquisition.

The acquisition strategy for FTUAS involves a Middle Tier Acquisition (MTA) pathway, with competitive prototyping, major design reviews, and operational assessments scheduled through FY 2025, culminating in a transition to production. A single FTUAS system comprises six air vehicles and payloads, six control stations, and ancillary equipment, including aircraft-specific ground support systems.

The program leverages a Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) to support rapid hardware and software integration, and secures necessary data rights to enable direct Army contracting with technology suppliers and government labs. This strategy is intended to break vendor lock-in and allow for agile upgrades and sustainment, with an initial three years of contractor logistics support transitioning to organic Army capabilities.

The ALE rapid prototyping effort includes development and integration activities for air vehicles, payloads, and mission system architecture, supported by experiments, simulations, and demonstrations. The program aims to field mature, high Technology Readiness Level (TRL) commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) and non-developmental item (NDI) technologies as residual capabilities, while continuing science and technology maturation for future requirements. The FY 2025 and FY 2026 budgets reflect realignment of ALE efforts to better capture funding and reporting under the UAS Launched Effects Agile Development program element.