Ground Technology

PE 0602144A: Ground Technology is a key Army research, development, test, and evaluation (RDT&E) program element focused on applied research to support the modernization of ground combat vehicles and related systems. The overarching goal is to design, validate, and mature technologies foundational for enduring and future ground movement, maneuver, and protection of Soldiers and platforms. The program is executed by a range of Army research centers and laboratories, including the Army Research Laboratory (ARL), Chemical Biological Center (CBC), Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC), and others. Research efforts are aligned with the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering priority areas and complement related Army modernization initiatives such as Next Generation Combat Vehicle Technology and Soldier Lethality Technology.

BK7: Robotics for Engineer Operations Technology aims to reduce risks and fatalities for Soldiers and Combat Engineers by developing standoff robotic capabilities for terrain shaping and construction tasks. The project focuses on semi-autonomous and autonomous control of heavy engineer equipment, enabling remote manipulation and real-time site modeling. Key objectives include expanding autonomy algorithms, improving obstacle detection, and enhancing spatial awareness among equipment at worksites. The end goal is to enable beyond line-of-sight teleoperation and semi-autonomous support for engineer operations in future combat environments.

BL1: Materials and Manufacturing Research Technology links materials research, manufacturing processes, and design to enable high-quality additive manufacturing for Army applications. The project develops advanced feedstock materials, process models, and real-time monitoring for additive manufacturing, focusing on lightweight protection, survivability, and maneuverability. Additional objectives include advancing battery chemistries and energy storage for hybrid power sources, and designing novel armor materials and processes for vehicle protection against kinetic and emerging threats. The research supports rapid response to battlefield threats and transitions to advanced manufacturing and protection technologies.

BL2: Explosives Forensics Technology investigates and develops sensor technologies for trace detection of military and homemade explosives, as well as solid chemical hazards on contaminated surfaces. The project pursues improved analytical methods, bio-inspired sensing, machine learning algorithms, and impedance-based spectroscopy to enhance battlefield and mobile lab forensic detection capabilities. The goal is to improve trace analysis and integration into detection equipment, supporting attribution and rapid response to explosive threats.

BL5: Expedient Passive Protection Technology focuses on rapidly deployable passive protective solutions and decision support methodologies to increase survivability of personnel, assets, and facilities. The project develops force protection technologies for complex and contested environments, including assessments of solutions for survivability from emerging threats and expedient protection for large-scale operations. Objectives include developing multi-material protection against shaped charges, overhead cover solutions for runways, and holistic survivability assessments for critical sites and functions.

BL7: Power Projection in A2AD Environments Technology designs and develops remote assessment technologies, site selection tools, and mobility models for entry and maneuver corridors in all-season and contested environments. The project reduces reliance on manned reconnaissance and enables rapid infrastructure repair and construction for movement and maneuver in Anti-Access/Area Denial (A2/AD) scenarios. New efforts include maritime contested logistics, focusing on algorithms and sensing for littoral region characterization and mobility prediction.

BL9: Protection from Advanced Weapon Effects Technology develops structural hardening, advanced materials, and modeling capabilities to enhance survivability against blast, fragmentation, and penetration threats. The project advances multi-scale material modeling, materials-by-design tools, and protective solutions for large hardened structures. Objectives include validating models and materials for system-level demonstrations and developing subscale concepts to protect against advanced penetrators, supporting transition to advanced technology programs.

BN8: Ground Technology Materials (Congressional Adds) encompasses a wide range of congressional interest items, including additive manufacturing for weapons, advanced ceramics, carbon nanomaterials, battery technology, flexible electronics, transparent armor, pavement preservation, rapid infrastructure manufacturing, rare earth materials, PFAS predictive modeling, and more. These efforts support the development and demonstration of novel materials, manufacturing processes, and environmental resilience technologies for Army applications, addressing specific operational, environmental, and infrastructure needs.

CG6: Ground Vehicle Power and Energy Concepts and Tech investigated advanced power and energy technologies for hybrid and electric combat vehicles, focusing on electrification, power conversion, and energy optimization to reduce size, weight, and emissions. The project supported improved vehicle mobility, silent operations, and integration of advanced power electronics and control methods. Research informed future platform electrification and mobility technology efforts.

CG7: Ground Protection Concepts and Technologies investigates advanced materials, armor mechanisms, and computational tools to defeat common and emerging threats to ground forces. The project develops mass-efficient armor, multi-threat protection systems, and experimental and modeling capabilities for passive, active, and hybrid solutions. Objectives include designing layered armor, optimizing material models, and leveraging high-performance computing for rapid development and assessment of new protection concepts.

CG8: Human Autonomy Teaming performs applied research to enable effective teaming of Soldiers and AI-enabled systems in complex, multi-domain operations. The project focuses on mission planning, dynamic resource allocation, cognition-centric interfaces, rapid AI adaptation, and operational/tactical planning for Soldier-AI teams. Objectives include maximizing team performance, reducing data requirements for AI adaptation, increasing Soldier trust, and ensuring ethical behavior in human-AI interactions.

CI2: Ground Enabling University Applied Research leverages academic research in autonomy, AI/ML, robotics, survivability, and ground platform technologies. The project supports mid- to far-term Army modernization priorities and near-term technology delivery, focusing on autonomous mobility, human-robot interactions, and cooperative maneuvers. University partnerships advance innovation in navigation, protection, and platform technologies for ground vehicles.

CV3: Engineer Enablers Maneuver, Logistics, & Sustainment Applications develops decision support capabilities for modernizing Army logistics planning in contested environments. The project researches distributed supply route planning, integrates engineer applications into geospatial frameworks, and develops algorithms for logistics efficiency. New efforts include worldwide gap analysis for rapid identification of feasible gap crossing sites, incorporating environmental factors and expert solutions for non-expert users.

DA1: SAFR Alternatives for Readiness Applied Research develops safer alternative technologies to support Army readiness, supply chain resilience, and environmental safety. The project investigates alternatives to toxic and restricted materials in ground vehicles and weapon systems, focusing on alloys, ceramics, composites, fluids, and energetics. Objectives include PFAS risk reduction, lead-free energetic materials, corrosion control, and minimizing lifecycle health and safety risks associated with advanced materials.

DG1: Development of Obscurants investigates and evaluates obscurant materials and technologies to degrade enemy surveillance, target acquisition, and missile guidance. The project focuses on advanced infrared and multi-spectral obscurants for safe and effective screening of personnel and platforms. Objectives include researching millimeter wave obscurant materials, dissemination methodologies, and vulnerability assessments against threat targeting systems.

DI7: Environmental Security Resilience Tech matures and demonstrates capabilities to support Army environmental security, addressing natural resource impediments, extreme weather, and environmental engineering challenges. The project develops decision support tools, models, and material solutions for operational planning and infrastructure management. New efforts include securing water resources, assessing biotech threats, developing ultra-light electromagnetic arrays for unexploded ordnance detection, and advancing atmospheric and climate risk research for mission impact prediction.