# Project 670011 — ARC-260

**Program element:** 0101113F — B-52 Squadrons  
**Project:** 670011  
**Component:** U.S. Air Force  
**Appropriation:** 3600 — RDT&E, Air Force  
**Budget Activity:** 7 — Operational System Development  
**Vintage:** President's Budget PB2027  
**Canonical URL:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/0101113F/670011  
**Parent:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/0101113F

## Summary

Project 670011 — ARC-260 requests $13.5M in FY2027, 0.9% of the $1.48B requested for program element 0101113F, up 115% on FY2026. 1 R-2A activity decomposes the request.

## Funding profile

| Fiscal Year | Estimate Type | Amount ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | Actual | 0.0 |
| FY2026 | Enacted | 6.3 |
| FY2027 | Request | 13.5 |
| FY2028 | Outyear | 6.0 |
| FY2029 | Outyear | 0.0 |
| FY2030 | Outyear | 0.0 |
| FY2031 | Outyear | 0.0 |

> Estimate types are not summed. This project is one leaf of PE 0101113F; the PE total is the sum of its projects, never added to them.

## What project 670011 buys

The B-52 ARC-260 program replaces a legacy HF radio with a modernized radio to ensure Beyond Line of Sight (BLOS) communications in a satellite denied environment. The legacy ARC-190 legacy radio is end of life (EOL) and is no longer procurable with increasing sustainment phase-out through FY31. The scope of the work includes, but is not limited to, the replacement of the existing ARC-190 system with an ARC-260 Radio Set Control (RSC) and Receiver/Transmitter (R/T). The current program intent is to reuse the existing HF antenna/coupler and reuse Group A items to the maximum extent. The ARC-260 will be integrated into the B-52 platform to improve HF voice communications and take full advantage of the HF Automatic Link Establishment (ALE) capabilities. The ARC-260 radio integration on the B-52 aircraft is essential to maintaining BLOS communications and improving mission capabilities well into the future. Funds may be used to address requirements including, but not limited to, emerging and short-notice Diminishing Manufacturing Sources and Material Shortages (DMSMS) for both aircraft and associated training systems, Development Testing (DT)/ Operational Testing (OT), and safety of flight issues. Additionally, funds may accommodate Program Management Administration (PMA) and support, civilian pay expenses, rapid technology insertion, and fulfill Federal Aviation Agency (FAA) or other mandates necessary to ensure continued aircrew safety and mission effectiveness. This program element may include necessary civilian pay expenses required to manage, execute, and deliver weapon system capability. The use of such program funds would be in addition to the civilian pay expenses budgeted in program element 0605827F, 0605828F, 0605829F, 0605831F, 0605832F, 0605833F, 0605898F, 0606398F.

**R-3 lines of work:** Product Development; Support; Test and Evaluation; Management Services.

## Activities (R-2A) — 1

| Activity | FY2025 | FY2026 | FY2027 | Move | Page |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B-52 ARC-260 | 0.0 | 6.3 | 13.5 | +115% | — |

> Activities carry the prior, current and budget year only — no five-year plan. In the request year they partition this project exactly; in earlier years they can under-cover it.

### B-52 ARC-260

**FY2027 planned work.** Program will continue EMD phase and complete SRR, PDR, and CDR with subsequent Milestone C decision planned in 2QFY27.

**FY2026 to FY2027 change.** The increase in funding is due to EMD efforts required to complete SRR, PDR, and CDR on the road to Milestone C in 2QFY27.

**FY2026 plans — current year.** Complete Acquisition Strategy for integrating the ARC-260 into the B-52 Platform and request MDA approval for ASP, ADM, release of the RFP, and entrance into the acquisition cycle at Milestone B.

## What is NOT on this page

Congressional marks, the R-2 mission description and acquisition strategy, the industry vs government split of the whole request, and related program elements are recorded at **program-element** grain — an NDAA mark lands on a PE, never on a project. They are at https://hitchintel.com/programs/0101113F.

## Source & machine access

- **Source:** FY2027 Department of the Air Force RDT&E Budget Justification, Exhibits R-2/R-2A/R-3, PE 0101113F project 670011 (PB PB2027).
- **MCP:** `mcp.hitchintel.com` — `budget_get_program_element(pe="0101113F")`.

*HitchAI is an independent intelligence service, not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Defense. Budget figures are requests/estimates, not obligations.*