U.S. Army DEVCOM AC and National Armaments Consortium Expand Master CRADA to Collaborate on Next-Generation UAS Fuzing Technologies

New annex supports research, development, and prototyping of common fuzing designs for advanced UAS weapons systems

Picatinny Arsenal, NJ, March 9, 2026 — The National Armaments Consortium (NAC) today announced the expansion of its Master Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM) Armaments Center (AC) to collaborate on next-generation Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) fuzing technologies.

The expanded CRADA enables DEVCOM AC’s scientists, engineers, and technical experts to partner with NAC’s network of more than 1,200 member organizations to research, develop, and prototype common UAS fuzing architectures. The effort is focused on demonstrating standardized interfaces, safety architectures, and designs that can be efficiently transitioned to the U.S. munitions industrial base.

The UAS fuzing effort supports the Pentagon’s objective of enabling rapid technology iteration and flexible lethality options to meet evolving battlefield demands. Department of War laboratories are conducting multiple cooperative programs to explore solutions that support soldier-built weaponized UAS, droppable munitions, and integrated one-way lethal attack systems—capabilities that require adaptable, safe, and standardized fuzing.

“This expanded CRADA is about delivering standardized UAS capabilities that are both effective and adaptable to a battlefield that is constantly evolving,” said Ben Harris, Executive Director of the NAC. “By pairing DEVCOM Armaments Center’s technical depth with the integration, prototyping, and production expertise of NAC members, we are enabling adaptable, manufacturable fuzing solutions that can be rapidly integrated, scaled, and fielded. This collaborative effort is vital to ensuring our warfighters have reliable and lethal UAS technologies that give them the overwhelming advantage over any and all adversaries.”

Under the CRADA annex, DEVCOM AC and participating NAC member organizations can collaborate and exchange technical data and information related to UAS fuzing design architectures currently under development across DEVCOM AC and partner Department of War laboratories. 

This collaboration enables direct government feedback from industry and academic partners on design approaches, technology gaps, interfaces, use cases, and manufacturability considerations critical to scaling UAS fuzing solutions for operational use.

The Master CRADA between NAC and DEVCOM AC was signed in May 2022 to streamline cooperative research and development across NAC’s network of industry, academic, and government participants. Unlike traditional CRADAs, the master agreement provides a pre-negotiated framework that allows multiple follow-on annexes—each focused on specific technical challenges—enabling rapid stand-up of collaborative projects with flexible intellectual property and licensing arrangements.

“We look forward to continuing our partnership with DEVCOM Armaments Center as we launch this CRADA annex,” added Buzzett. “Together, we will keep accelerating scalable UAS solutions to deliver decisive capability to the warfighter.”

The UAS fuzing technologies annexed to the Master CRADA is effective immediately.

About the National Armaments Consortium

The National Armaments Consortium (NAC) is one of the largest collaborative organizations working with the Department of Defense to develop armaments technologies in support of national security. NAC focuses on rapidly transitioning technology to the warfighter, promoting innovation, strengthening the defense industrial base, and fostering collaboration among government, industry, and academia. NAC also drives participation by nontraditional defense contractors and supports national priorities in research and development, other transaction agreements, and future capability development.

For more information, visit www.nacconsortium.org.