Unmanned Aerial Systems Launched Effects Advanced Technology Development

The Unmanned Aerial Systems Launched Effects Advanced Technology Development program (PE 0603345A) is a research and development initiative within the Army's Advanced Technology Development budget activity. Its primary goal is to mature and demonstrate advanced technologies for uncrewed air vehicles (UAVs) and mission systems, with a focus on enhancing the Army's capabilities in attack, reconnaissance, air assault, survivability, logistics, and command and control missions. The program supports the Army's broader modernization strategy and aligns with the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering's priority focus areas.

This program element funds the development of aviation platform and mission system technologies that will enable the Army to modernize its unmanned aerial systems (UAS) portfolio. By advancing these technologies, the Army aims to improve the effectiveness and survivability of its UAS in complex operational environments. The funding also supports civilian salaries for in-house researchers, scientists, and program managers who are directly involved in the research, development, and demonstration activities.

The primary project within this program element for Fiscal Year 2026 is focused on developing and demonstrating the ability to launch Launched Effects (LE) UAS from both manned and unmanned Army aircraft at tactical altitudes, as well as from ground platforms. The project also emphasizes enabling control of these UAS from the cockpit or crew stations and assessing the operational relevance of these capabilities to current Army aviation engagement and survivability requirements.

A key objective of the project is the Versatile Launched Effects (VLE) Demonstration. This effort aims to mature, integrate, and demonstrate attritable future UAS capabilities suitable for contested multi-domain operations, including urban, urban-fringe, and littoral environments. The VLE Demonstration will showcase a family of UAS that can be organically carried and launched from both aircraft and surface vehicles. These systems are designed to perform the Find, Fix, Target, Track, Engage, and Assess (F2T2EA) mission set, helping the Army achieve overmatch in complex joint all-domain operational environments.

In FY 2026, the VLE Demonstration will focus on maturing enhanced mission systems and system hardening efforts to meet Launched Effects Army Capability Development Document (A-CDD) requirements. The project will integrate and demonstrate initial modular air vehicle concepts that incorporate payloads and mission systems for both air- and ground-launched effects operations. These demonstrations are intended to inform the system specifications for the future Launched Effects Program of Record and support long-range, littoral, and urban-fringe mission profiles.

Work under this program is coordinated with related Army research and development efforts, including those in Future Vertical Lift Technology, Unmanned Aerial Systems Launched Effects Applied Research, and Air Platform Advanced Technology. The Aviation & Missile Center (AvMC) is the primary executing agency for the technical work, ensuring integration and alignment with the Army's overall science and technology air systems portfolio.

This program is part of the Department of Defense Capability Based (Agile) Funding pilot, which is designed to foster innovation and accelerate the deployment of promising technologies. The FY 2026 funding increase reflects a realignment from the Future Vertical Lift Advanced Technology program, consolidating efforts to advance air-launched effects technologies under a unified research and development approach. No procurement or acquisition strategy is specified at this stage, as the focus remains on technology maturation and demonstration.