Aerospace Technology Dev/Demo

Abstract

This program supports Department of Defense (DoD) priorities for Aerospace Systems demonstrations to include high-speed systems and autonomous collaborative platforms. System level integration and demonstration of advanced aerospace system technologies (autonomy, propulsion, power and thermal, air vehicle, fuels, etc.) in a near-realistic operational environment enhance performance and supportability of existing and future aerospace systems while reducing the risk and time required to transition technologies into operational aircraft. Additionally, this program supports the nuclear enterprise and nuclear deterrence through advanced component and technology demonstrations. Projects in this program have been coordinated through the DoD Science and Technology (S&T) Executive Committee process to harmonize efforts and eliminate duplication. The program has six current projects, each focusing on technologies with a high potential to enhance the performance of existing and future Air Force weapon systems per modeling, simulation, and analysis while utilizing digital engineering to accelerate and enhance the science and technology development. - Missile Rocket Propulsion Integration and Demonstration: Develops and demonstrates innovative rocket propulsion technologies, propellants, and manufacturing techniques for strategic and tactical systems to reduce costs, schedule, and increase performance. - Next Gen Platform Dev/Demo: Supports the nuclear enterprise and nuclear deterrence through advanced component and technology demonstrations. - Flight Vehicle Tech Integration: Develops and demonstrates aerospace vehicle technology to enhance the capability of current and future aerospace systems with current focus on autonomous collaborative platform capabilities. - Aircraft Propulsion Subsystems Integration: Develops and demonstrates propulsion technology to increase warfighting capability by advancing engine operational reliability and durability, providing mission flexibility, and improved performance while reducing weight, fuel consumption, and cost of ownership. - High Speed Systems Integration and Demonstration: Develops, demonstrates, and integrates high speed propulsion capability (to include hypersonic) to enhance and enable high speed system technology, increasing long range strike capabilities at the speed of critical warfighting capabilities required for near peer competition. - Flight Systems Control: Develops and demonstrates adaptive power and thermal management components, controls and systems for high-power payloads enabling aerospace systems to deliver strike capabilities while integrating autonomy and control technologies to enable affordable mass in the fight and revolutionary autonomous collaborative platform capabilities. - Advanced Aerospace Propulsion: Develops and demonstrates high speed propulsion capability (to include hypersonic) to enhance and enable long range strike capabilities at the speed of relevance for the Department of the Air Force. In FY 2025, the RDT&E Budget Activity 03 (BA03) Aerospace Propulsion and Power Technology efforts and activities under PE 0603216F, are transferred to PE 0603211F, Aerospace Technology Dev/Demo for increased integration between airframe, flight control, propulsion, electrical, power and thermal management. In FY 2025, the entirety of PE 0603216F, Aerospace Propulsion and Power Technology, Project 633035 Aerospace Power Technology, is transferred to PE 0603211F, Aerospace Technology Dev/Demo, Project 634927 Flight Systems Control. In FY 2025, the entirety of PE 0603216F, Aerospace Propulsion and Power Technology, Project 634093 Missile Rocket Propulsion Integ & Demo, is transferred to PE 0603211F, Aerospace Technology Dev/Demo, Project 634093 Missile Rocket Propulsion Integ & Demo. In FY 2025, the entirety of PE 0603216F, Aerospace Propulsion and Power Technology, Project 634921 Aircraft Propulsion Subsystems Int, is transferred to PE 0603211F, Aerospace Technology Dev/Demo, Project 634921 Aircraft Propulsion Subsystems Int. In FY 2025, the entirety of PE 0603216F, Aerospace Propulsion and Power Technology, Project 635098 Advanced Aerospace Propulsion, is transferred to PE 0603211F, Aerospace Technology Dev/Demo, Project 634926 High Speed Systems Integ & Demo. Efforts in this program have been coordinated through the Department of Defense (DoD) Science and Technology (S&T) Executive Committee process to harmonize efforts and eliminate duplication. This program element may include necessary civilian pay expenses required to manage, execute, and deliver science & technology capabilities. The use of program funds in this program element would be in addition to the civilian pay expenses budgeted in program elements 0601102F, 0602020, 0602102F, 0602201F, 0602202F,0602203F, 0602204F, 0602602F, 0602605F, 0602788F, 0602298F, and 1206601SF. This program element may include necessary expenses to support the operation and maintenance of facilities to manage, execute, and deliver science and technology capabilities. This program is in Budget Activity 3, Advanced Technology Development because this budget activity includes development of subsystems and components and efforts to integrate subsystems and components into system prototypes for field experiments and/or tests in a simulated environment.

Document Details

• Document Type: R2 Budgetary Justification
• Publication Date: Oct 01, 2025
• Source ID: 0603211F_3_3600_PB_2025
• Change Summary Explanation: FY 2025 funding increased compared to FY 2024 by $50.633 million. The increase is due to the transfer of PE 63216F, Aerospace Propulsion & Power, efforts to PE 0603211F, Aerospace Technology Dev/Demo.
• Service Agency Name: Air Force

Entities

Organizations

• United States Air Force

Tags

Fields of Study

• Physics

Readers

• Military Science and Technology Research and Modernization.

Technology Areas

• Hypersonics
• Space
• Space - Hall-Effect Thruster