# E-4B Aircraft Modernization — Program Element 0302015F

**Program element:** 0302015F  
**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/0302015F

## Summary

U.S. Air Force requests $50.9M in FY2027 (down from a FY2026 peak), before stepping down 94% across the five-year plan. In the FY2027 defense authorization, the House funded it in full; the Senate funded it in full; House appropriators added 22% (to $62.0M). L3Harris leads the industry work.

## Funding profile

| Fiscal Year | Estimate Type | Amount ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | Actual | 52.4 |
| FY2026 | Enacted | 55.1 |
| FY2027 | Request | 50.9 |
| FY2028 | Outyear | 21.8 |
| FY2029 | Outyear | 2.7 |
| FY2030 | Outyear | 2.7 |
| FY2031 | Outyear | 2.8 |

> 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 | 50.9 | — |
| House NDAA (HASC) | 50.9 | +0.0 |
| Senate NDAA (SASC) | 50.9 | +0.0 |
| House Approps (HAC-D) | 62.0 | +11.1 |

> 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 674777 | E-4B Aircraft Modernization | 52.4 | 55.1 | 50.9 | −8% |

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

### Project 674777 — E-4B Aircraft Modernization

The four (4) aircraft E-4B National Airborne Operations Center (NAOC) fleet satisfies the military need for an airborne operations center with communications capabilities permitting military and civilian leadership to monitor and control military and civil national assets during all phases of conflict (nuclear and non-nuclear) or natural disaster. The E-4B NAOC fleet also satisfies the military requirement to provide a highly survivable node of the National Military Command System (NMCS). This program's developmental efforts include, but are not limited to, upgrades and enhancements to aircraft structures, propulsion system, fuel system, environmental control system, electrical generation and distribution systems, flight safety and navigation systems (with their associated communications equipment), and the Systems Integration Lab. Modifications may enhance the aircraft's mission capabilities necessary for the E-4B fleet to execute its mission, to include but not limited to those necessary for the Senior Leadership Command, Control and Communications System (SLC3S), National Leadership Command Capability (NLCC), and Nuclear Command, Control, and Communications (NC3). Funds may also be used to explore and develop modifications, upgrades, and future systems required to meet evolving mission requirements. This budget supports the following developmental modifications and studies/projects currently underway or planned for accomplishment: - Survivable Super High Frequency (SSHF) will upgrade and replace portions of the E-4B's Jam-Resistant Secure Communications (JRSC) system to meet existing Presidential Policy Directive (PPD)-35 and National Security Presidential Directive (NSPD)-51/Homeland Security Presidential Directive (HSPD)-20 requirements and to ensure continued connectivity and interoperability as satellite and communications infrastructure evolves. Expected modifications include, but are not limited to, component and sub-system upgrades and replaces portions of the current Super High Frequency (SHF) system that are obsolete or near end of service life. A replacement to the SHF system is required as secure, survivable communications capability transitions from the Defense Satellite Communications System (DSCS). A risk-reduction study was completed in FY 2019 to further define the acquisition strategy of the SSHF program.

**Named R-3 performers** (share of this project's FY2027 R-3 total, so they need not reach 100%)**:** L3Harris (23.0, 45%), SMS (13.7, 27%).

| Activity (R-2A) | FY2025 | FY2026 | FY2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Survivable SHF | 43.3 | 41.0 | 23.0 |
| E-4B Systems Integration Laboratory (SIL) | 9.0 | 8.0 | 13.7 |
| Touchscreen Executive Phone-Airborne (TXP-A) | 0.0 | 6.1 | 14.2 |

> 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 | 72% | 36.6 |
| Other / unspecified | 28% | 14.2 |

**Top named industry performers:** L3Harris ($23.0M, 45%), SMS ($13.7M, 27%).

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

## Mission & acquisition strategy

The four (4) aircraft E-4B National Airborne Operations Center (NAOC) fleet satisfies the military need for an airborne operations center with communications capabilities permitting military and civilian leadership to monitor and control military and civil national assets during all phases of conflict (nuclear and non-nuclear) or natural disaster. The E-4B NAOC fleet also satisfies the military requirement to provide a highly survivable node of the National Military Command System (NMCS).

Acquisition Strategy: The acquisition strategy for each specific modification differs based on the urgency of the requirement, definition of the capability, and technology readiness level of the components. The Acquisition Strategy for Survivable SHF Inc 1A and 1B is Section 804 Middle Tier Acquisition (MTA). Increment 1 Rapid Prototype MTA was approved in April 2019 and is in the procurement phase. Increment 2 Rapid Prototype MTA was approved in December 2021, but was split into two increments and ultimately transitioned into two ACAT III acquisition programs, 2B (Ku-band/X-band) in 1st quarter FY 2025 and 2A (Spectre) in 3rd quarter FY 2025.

## Related program elements

- [0604014N — F/A-18 Infrared Search and Track (IRST)](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0604014N) (Navy)
- [0203735A — Combat Vehicle Improvement Programs](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0203735A) (Army)
- [0604874C — Improved Homeland Defense Interceptors](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0604874C) (Defense-Wide)
- [0708012S — Pacific Disaster Center Risk Analytics and Readiness](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0708012S) (Defense-Wide)

## Source & machine access

- **Source:** FY2027 Department of the Air Force RDT&E Budget Justification, Exhibits R-2/R-3, PE 0302015F (PB PB2027); FY2027 NDAA committee marks (as of 2026-07-27).
- **MCP:** `mcp.hitchintel.com` — `budget_get_program_element(pe="0302015F")`.

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