# F-16 Squadrons — Program Element 0207133F

**Program element:** 0207133F  
**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/0207133F

## Summary

U.S. Air Force funding ramps 130% to a $527.7M request in FY2027 — the program's peak, before stepping down 67% across the five-year plan. In the FY2027 defense authorization, the House funded it in full; the Senate funded it in full; House appropriators cut 12% (to $461.8M). 309th SWEG leads the industry work.

## Funding profile

| Fiscal Year | Estimate Type | Amount ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | Actual | 107.7 |
| FY2026 | Enacted | 229.9 |
| FY2027 | Request | 527.7 |
| FY2028 | Outyear | 385.1 |
| FY2029 | Outyear | 303.4 |
| FY2030 | Outyear | 201.4 |
| FY2031 | Outyear | 176.3 |

> Estimate types are not summed — the profile mixes actuals, enacted law, the request, and outyear projections.

## Congressional marks (FY2027)

| Stage | Marked ($M) | Change ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| Request | 527.7 | — |
| House NDAA (HASC) | 527.7 | +0.0 |
| Senate NDAA (SASC) | 527.7 | +0.0 |
| House Approps (HAC-D) | 461.8 | −66.0 |

> FY2027 NDAA authorization marks, as of 2026-07-27. Not appropriations or final law.

## Projects (1)

| Project | Title | FY2025 actual | FY2026 enacted | FY2027 request | Move |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 672671 | F-16 Squadrons | 107.7 | 229.9 | 527.7 | +130% |

> Projects are the summable leaves: the program element total is their sum, never added to it.

### Project 672671 — F-16 Squadrons

The F-16 is a multi-role fighter that comprises roughly 40% of the USAF fighter fleet with 810 aircraft supporting a variety of air-to-air and air-to-surface missions, such as offensive and defensive counter-air, close air support, forward air control, air interdiction (day/night and all-weather), and Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD)/Destruction of Enemy Air Defenses (DEAD). F-16 posture and readiness combined with low operating costs delivers affordable capacity for the USAF and partner nations. Its capabilities continue to evolve, capitalizing upon advancements made in computers, avionics systems, engines, and structural technologies. These advancements meet emerging warfighter requirements to combat current and evolving enemy threats. Funding described in this document provides upgrades to the F-16 platform necessary for the delivery of joint lethality in the coming decades. These computer processing and avionics upgrades are critical to a modernized architecture compatible with current open, agile, and digital concepts that will maintain platform viability into the 2040s. Post-Block (40/42/50/52) and Pre-Block (30) F-16s have similar capabilities and are interoperable but require some independent modernization and sustainment of hardware, software, and training. The F-16 Foreign Military Sales (FMS) Program is one of the largest in DoW, providing assurance to 29 partners and growing. F-16 remains in production in South Carolina and additional nations continue to commit to new aircraft purchases. RDT&E efforts include, but are not limited to, enduring programs for Operational Flight Program (OFP) Software (SW) development, Integrated Test activities, Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, Simulators/Trainers, Integrated Viper Electronic Warfare Suite (IVEWS), Next Gen Mission Computer (NGMC)- New Start, Engineering Manufacturing and Design (EMD) Hardware/Advanced capability improvements, M-Code, and Diminishing Manufacturing Sources (DMS). Programs complete or nearing full development completion for Advanced Identification Friend or Foe (AIFF-Mode 5) APX-127, Data Bus Cybersecurity, and F-16 Electrical Test Equipment. The FY2026 spend plan amount for RDT&E includes $229,857 thousand of discretionary and $82,500 thousand of mandatory (reconciliation) for a total of $312,357 thousand. Mandatory funds are for the IVEWS program.

**Named R-3 performers** (share of this project's FY2027 R-3 total, so they need not reach 100%)**:** 309th SWEG (169.0, 32%), Northrop Grumman (118.1, 22%), CAE (5.8, 1.1%), AFLCMC/WNY (3.0, 0.6%).

| Activity (R-2A) | FY2025 | FY2026 | FY2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| OFP Updates on all F-16 aircraft | 84.7 | 138.8 | 180.3 |
| F-16 Integrated Test | 6.5 | 35.3 | 25.4 |
| Simulator Trainers Program (STP) | 0.0 | 5.8 | 5.8 |
| AIFF Mode 5 | 4.0 | 1.1 | 0.0 |
| AESA Radar | 4.3 | 21.4 | 21.9 |
| Integrated Viper Electronic Warfare Suite (IVEWS) | 8.2 | 12.5 | 96.1 |
| M Code | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3.0 |
| Data Bus Cybersecurity | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.0 |
| Next Generation Mission Computer (NGMC) | — | 0.0 | 195.1 |

> R-2A activities carry the prior, current and budget year only — no five-year plan. Coverage is partial, so count them, never total them.

## Where the FY2027 request goes

| Category | Share | $M |
|---|---|---|
| Industry primes | 56% | 295.9 |
| Other / unspecified | 44% | 231.8 |

**Top named industry performers:** 309th SWEG ($169.0M, 32%), Northrop Grumman ($118.1M, 22%).

> R-3 exhibit contract funding, not USAspending obligations.

## Mission & acquisition strategy

The F-16 is a multi-role fighter that comprises roughly 40% of the USAF fighter fleet with 810 aircraft supporting a variety of air-to-air and air-to-surface missions, such as offensive and defensive counter-air, close air support, forward air control, air interdiction (day/night and all-weather), and Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD)/Destruction of Enemy Air Defenses (DEAD). F-16 posture and readiness combined with low operating costs delivers affordable capacity for the USAF and partner nations. Its capabilities continue to evolve, capitalizing upon advancements made in computers, avionics systems, engines, and structural technologies.

OFP SW development effort is completely developed organically at Hill AFB (309th SWEG). Numerous integration contracts (CPFF, FFP) are required to allow for Improved Avionics, Weapon, AIFF Mode 5, and MIDS-JTRS integration to successfully field with each OFP. Integrated Test requires both organic test range support (Edwards AFB, Eglin AFB, Nellis AFB, Morris ANGB) and contract support (Lockheed Martin) for modification integration testing of F-16 programs and subsystems. Advanced Identify Friend or Foe (AIFF) Mode 5 program uses numerous contracts for DMS resolution, integration, production, support, and installs. Funding will be awarded on the following contracts: Harness IDIQ, Bracket IDIQ, Lockheed Martin Falcon Enterprise, and BAE Mode 5 IDIQ.

## Related program elements

- [0701212F — Test And Evaluation Support Budget Authority](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0701212F) (Air Force)
- [0401221F — KC-46A Tanker Squadrons](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0401221F) (Air Force)
- [0605865N — Operational Test & Eval Capability](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0605865N) (Navy)
- [0603225D8Z — Joint DoD-DoE Munitions Technology Development](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0603225D8Z) (Defense-Wide)

## Source & machine access

- **Source:** FY2027 Department of the Air Force RDT&E Budget Justification, Exhibits R-2/R-3, PE 0207133F (PB PB2027); FY2027 NDAA committee marks (as of 2026-07-27).
- **MCP:** `mcp.hitchintel.com` — `budget_get_program_element(pe="0207133F")`.

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