Weapons and Munitions Product Improvement Programs

The Weapons and Munitions Product Improvement Programs (PE 0607131A) is a key Army initiative under the Research, Development, Test & Evaluation (RDT&E) budget. It focuses on enhancing the performance, reliability, safety, and manufacturability of fielded and production munitions and weapon systems. The program aims to ensure that the Army's munitions portfolio remains responsive to evolving operational requirements, technological advancements, and emerging threats. It also addresses obsolescence, environmental, and supply chain challenges. The FY 2026 budget request supports several distinct projects, each targeting specific areas of product improvement across precision fires, close combat, indirect fire, and direct fire technologies.

CP2: Precision Fire Technology Improvements aims to advance Precision Guided Munitions (PGMs) and associated fuze and fuze setter technologies, such as the M1155 Enhanced Portable Inductive Artillery Fuze Setter (EPIAFS), Excalibur, and the Precision Guidance Kit (PGK). The objectives include increasing range, lethality, accuracy, and survivability of artillery systems in support of the Army's Cannon Transformation Strategy. FY 2026 funding supports software development, integration activities, and modernization efforts to ensure compatibility with new PGMs and artillery platforms, particularly those with longer cannon lengths. Congressional adds in FY 2025 also fund development and testing software for 155 mm round production and munitions production research, aimed at modernizing infrastructure and improving ammunition production efficiency.

ER2: Close Combat Technology focuses on upgrading close combat munitions and energetics, including grenades, demolitions, shoulder-launched munitions, pyrotechnic simulators, countermeasure flares, non-lethal systems, and networked mines. The program addresses reliability, safety, environmental, storage, standardization, and manufacturing issues. Notable FY 2026 efforts include the M330 Obscuration Grenade, which replaces toxic legacy smoke grenades with an environmentally friendly alternative. Additional efforts include modernization of the M67 fragmentation grenade to meet Insensitive Munitions requirements, qualification of alternative explosive fills for demolition blocks, and improvements to the Volcano mine delivery system. Other projects include airborne expendable countermeasure modernization, MICLIC trainer development, electronic delay for vehicle-launched smoke grenades, and enhanced communication for shoulder-launched munitions.

ER5: Indirect Fire and Fuze Technology is dedicated to product improvements for indirect fire weapon systems and munitions, with objectives such as improved target engagement, reliability, maintainability, safety, and interoperability with allied systems. The Fuze Technology Integration (FTI) project is central to this effort, implementing new and mature technologies into fuzing systems to address obsolescence, standardization, and exportability. FY 2026 activities include expanding the fuze critical components database, integrating miniature reserve cell batteries, and developing second source signal processor ASIC chips for mortars and medium caliber fuzes. Congressional adds support the development and testing of software for 155 mm round production and research into advanced thermal batteries to increase power output and reliability.

ER6: Direct Fire Technology supports enhancements to small, medium, and large caliber ammunition, targeting improvements in lethality, effectiveness, survivability, and accuracy. FY 2026 funding supports lightweight ammunition development, environmentally friendly primers, precision sniper and handgun ammunition optimization, and medium caliber lethality and safety enhancements, including Counter Unmanned Aircraft System (C-UAS) technology. For tank ammunition, efforts focus on tracer improvements, combustible cartridge case design, and multipurpose cartridge assessment. Congressional adds in FY 2024 and FY 2025 fund initiatives such as domestic antimony and stibnite production for ammunition, lightweight ammunition manufacturing resilience, refractory metal alloys for hypersonics, smart manufacturing for armaments, and printed electronics for munitions.

Across all projects, the acquisition strategies employ a mix of government labor, Other Transaction Agreements (OTA), and full and open competition contracts, leveraging the expertise of Army research centers, industry partners, and academic institutions. The program also aligns with broader Department of Defense and Army modernization priorities, such as Soldier Lethality, environmental stewardship, and supply chain resilience. The FY 2026 budget reflects adjustments to promote efficiency and policy alignment, including a reduction for Advisory and Assistance Services in accordance with Executive Order 14222.