# Joint Simulation Environment — Program Element 0207606F

**Program element:** 0207606F  
**Component:** U.S. Air Force  
**Appropriation:** 3600 — RDT&E, Air Force  
**Budget Activity:** 4 — Advanced Component Development & Prototypes  
**Vintage:** President's Budget PB2027  
**Canonical URL:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/0207606F

## Summary

U.S. Air Force funding ramps 22% to a $302.8M request in FY2027, sustained 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 8.1% (to $278.2M). AFLCMC/WNR leads the industry work.

## Funding profile

| Fiscal Year | Estimate Type | Amount ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | Actual | 147.4 |
| FY2026 | Enacted | 247.5 |
| FY2027 | Request | 302.8 |
| FY2028 | Outyear | 352.2 |
| FY2029 | Outyear | 334.0 |
| FY2030 | Outyear | 323.5 |
| FY2031 | Outyear | 313.1 |

> 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 | 302.8 | — |
| House NDAA (HASC) | 302.8 | +0.0 |
| Senate NDAA (SASC) | 302.8 | +0.0 |
| House Approps (HAC-D) | 278.2 | −24.6 |

> 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 642407 | Joint Simulation Environment | 147.4 | 247.5 | 302.8 | +22% |

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

### Project 642407 — Joint Simulation Environment

Joint Simulation Environment (JSE) is the Air Force's synthetic solution for High-End Advanced Training, Tactics, and Testing (HEAT3). JSE supports operational plan rehearsals, large force exercises, aircrew training events, and aircraft platform operational test campaigns. This capability directly supports United States Air Force Warfare Center (USAFWC), United States Air Force Weapons School, Air Force Test Center (AFTC), Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center (AFOTEC), and addresses platform training and test efforts that cannot be performed in open air. JSE encompasses, but is not limited to, lab facilities for development and experimentation, as well as multiple test and training locations, to include, but not limited to: Joint Integrated Test & Training Center Nellis AFB (JITTC-N), Digital Test & Training Range Nellis AFB (DTTR-N), Digital Test & Training Range Edwards AFB (DTTR-E), and future planned location JITTC-Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JITTC-E). JSE Platform-In-A-Box (PIAB) Operational Flight Program (OFP) Based Simulator Development: Entails the study, evaluation, early experimentation, and development for platforms beyond the current/existing F-35 capability. Activities include analysis of OFPs, to include high-fidelity aircraft mission system and sensor models, against JSE software and interface standards, as well as common hardware standards enabling remote monitoring, updates, and security management. JSE Digital Test and Training Ranges (DTTR): Maintains and upgrades existing test capabilities, to include the continuation of installation, integration, and verification/validation activities in support of fielded and future platforms and virtual air threats. Furthermore, the 445 Test Squadron at DTTR-E manages Developmental Test (DT) and Operational Test (OT) events, as well as cyber testing integration for the JSE Enterprise as part of their Executing Test Organization (ETO) role, delegated to the 445th TS by the 412th Test Wing as the JSE Enterprise's Lead Developmental Test Organization (LDTO). JSE Core Environment Development/Integration: Continues to develop JSE foundational capabilities enabling further test, integration, and training.

**Named R-3 performers** (share of this project's FY2027 R-3 total, so they need not reach 100%)**:** AFLCMC/WNR (302.8, 100%).

| Activity (R-2A) | FY2025 | FY2026 | FY2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| JSE Platform In-A-Box (PIAB) and Pilot Vehicle Interface (PIV) Hardware Simulator Development | 4.1 | 37.5 | 45.2 |
| JSE Digital Test and Training Ranges (DTTRs) | 16.8 | 14.6 | 22.9 |
| JSE Core Environment Development/Integration | 126.4 | 195.4 | 234.6 |

> 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 | 100% | 302.8 |

**Top named industry performers:** AFLCMC/WNR ($302.8M, 100%).

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

## Mission & acquisition strategy

Joint Simulation Environment (JSE) is the Air Force's synthetic solution for High-End Advanced Training, Tactics, and Testing (HEAT3). JSE supports operational plan rehearsals, large force exercises, aircrew training events, and aircraft platform operational test campaigns. This capability directly supports United States Air Force Warfare Center (USAFWC), United States Air Force Weapons School, Air Force Test Center (AFTC), Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center (AFOTEC), and addresses platform training and test efforts that cannot be performed in open air.

The JSE program will leverage a combination of interagency agreements and contracts to support the continued development, experimentation, integration, testing and fielding of the core environment software and hardware infrastructure. On 22 June 2025, JSE program entered the Execution Phase of the Software Acquisition Pathway for the execution of both software and hardware requirements. This supports integration of additional platforms with the synthetic environment, the JSE program office will execute agreements with aircraft platform program offices and leverage existing platform contracts to support risk reduction, development, integration & test of additional platform-specific simulator capabilities.

## Related program elements

- [0604858F — Tech Transition Program](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0604858F) (Air Force)
- [0605807F — Test and Evaluation Support](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0605807F) (Air Force)
- [0603207N — Air/Ocean Tactical Applications](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0603207N) (Navy)
- [0603573N — Advanced Surface Machinery Sys](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0603573N) (Navy)

## Source & machine access

- **Source:** FY2027 Department of the Air Force RDT&E Budget Justification, Exhibits R-2/R-3, PE 0207606F (PB PB2027); FY2027 NDAA committee marks (as of 2026-07-27).
- **MCP:** `mcp.hitchintel.com` — `budget_get_program_element(pe="0207606F")`.

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