# Project 650011 — HLD - OTHR

**Program element:** 0102417F — Over-the-Horizon Backscatter Radar  
**Project:** 650011  
**Component:** U.S. Air Force  
**Appropriation:** 3600 — RDT&E, Air Force  
**Budget Activity:** 5 — System Development & Demonstration  
**Vintage:** President's Budget PB2027  
**Canonical URL:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/0102417F/650011  
**Parent:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/0102417F

## Summary

Project 650011 — HLD - OTHR requests $77.9M in FY2027, 45% of the $174.0M requested for program element 0102417F — a restart: funded in FY2025, zeroed in FY2026, funded again now. 1 R-2A activity decomposes the request, 1 restarted this cycle. AFLCMC/HBD is the largest named R-3 performer at $21.1M, 27% of the project's FY2027 R-3 total.

## Funding profile

| Fiscal Year | Estimate Type | Amount ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | Actual | 367.5 |
| FY2026 | Enacted | 0.0 |
| FY2027 | Request | 77.9 |
| FY2028 | Outyear | 116.7 |
| FY2029 | Outyear | 147.4 |
| FY2030 | Outyear | 69.9 |
| FY2031 | Outyear | 104.9 |

> Estimate types are not summed. This project is one leaf of PE 0102417F; the PE total is the sum of its projects, never added to them.

## What project 650011 buys

Homeland Defense (HLD) Over-the-Horizon radar (OTHR) efforts are focused on the development of a capability to provide long range early, warning for North America in response to threats. The program's intent is to design, develop, test and field advanced OTHR systems operating at levels of sensitivity far exceeding current US OTHR systems in operation. Program activities include command and control (C2) interface design and integration, transmit sub-system development and integration, HF sensor and digital receiver technology advancement, ionospheric characterization research, remote sensor management capability development, and sensor data fusion research. HLD OTHR data will be distributed and integrated into existing Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD) early warning networks, to include the emerging architectures as applicable. In support of the Air and Cruise Missile Defense of the Homeland (ACMD-H) mission and North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD)/United States Northern Command USNORTHCOM (N/NC) Defense of North America mission, the project focuses investments to enhance capability for OTHRs. HLD OTHR will continue executing experimental efforts and procure necessary upgraded hardware with the Department of War science and technology community, including federally funded research and development center, defense laboratories, and small business expertise to characterize ionospheric conditions in CONUS locations. 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 PE 0605827F, 0605828F, 0605829F, 0605831F, 0605832F, 0605833F, 0605898F, 0606398F. In FY 2025, 3.865 million was expended for civilian pay expenses in this program element. HLD OTHR development is not a new start. The program received initial funding in FY 2023 under the North Warning Systems Program (0102412F). The DAF realigned the funding in FY 2024 to Over-the-Horizon Backscatter Radar Program (0102417F) to report all DAF OTHR efforts. The HLD OTHR program utilized FY 2025 28.0 million for a Rapid Acquisition Authority requirement.

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

## Named R-3 performers

| Performer | $M | Share of this project's FY2027 R-3 total |
|---|---|---|
| AFLCMC/HBD | 21.1 | 27% |
| AFLCMC/ESG | 0.5 | 0.6% |

> Budget-justification contract funding, not obligations. Shares need not reach 100% — unnamed and government work is in the denominator.

## Activities (R-2A) — 1

| Activity | FY2025 | FY2026 | FY2027 | Move | Page |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Homeland Defense Over the Horizon Radar Development | 367.5 | 0.0 | 77.9 | restart | [a0](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0102417F/650011/a0) |

> 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.

### Homeland Defense Over the Horizon Radar Development — RESTART

- Utilize Winter Study results and ionospheric model to inform system design and algorithm development - Continue system design and supply chain market research - Develop training material and technical documentation for operators - Complete set of planned activities are held at a higher level

Full year-by-year narrative: https://hitchintel.com/programs/0102417F/650011/a0

## 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/0102417F.

## Source & machine access

- **Source:** FY2027 Department of the Air Force RDT&E Budget Justification, Exhibits R-2/R-2A/R-3, PE 0102417F project 650011 (PB PB2027).
- **MCP:** `mcp.hitchintel.com` — `budget_get_program_element(pe="0102417F")`.

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