# Looking Glass Next (LG-N)) — Program Element 0302060F

**Program element:** 0302060F  
**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/0302060F

## Summary

U.S. Air Force requests $65.3M in FY2027 against nothing enacted in FY2026, with nothing planned by FY2031. In the FY2027 defense authorization, the House funded it in full; the Senate funded it in full; House appropriators cut 25% (to $49.0M). Hanscom AFB leads the industry work.

## Funding profile

| Fiscal Year | Estimate Type | Amount ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | Actual | 0.0 |
| FY2026 | Enacted | 0.0 |
| FY2027 | Request | 65.3 |
| FY2028 | Outyear | 409.5 |
| FY2029 | Outyear | 0.0 |
| FY2030 | Outyear | 0.0 |
| FY2031 | Outyear | 0.0 |

> 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 | 65.3 | — |
| House NDAA (HASC) | 65.3 | +0.0 |
| Senate NDAA (SASC) | 65.3 | +0.0 |
| House Approps (HAC-D) | 49.0 | −16.3 |

> 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 646508 | Looking Glass Next (LG-N)) | 0.0 | 0.0 | 65.3 | new start |

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

### Project 646508 — Looking Glass Next (LG-N))

Looking Glass - Next (LG-N) is a pre-Major Defense Acquisition Program (MDAP) to recapitalize the Looking Glass (previously known as Airborne National Command Post (ABNCP)) and provide Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) Secondary Launch Capability (SLC). To satisfy operational requirements, the LG-N weapon system will be comprised of an air vehicle, mission systems, and ground support systems. The air vehicle will be hardened to protect against nuclear and electromagnetic effects and use a Modular Open System Approach (MOSA) for a mission system that will integrate secure communications and planning capabilities on modern information technology (IT) infrastructure. The ground systems should include aircrew trainers, mission crew trainers, maintenance training devices, ground support equipment, sustainment system integration laboratories (SIL), and other ground systems to enable the operations, sustainment, and future modifications of the LG-N weapon system across its lifecycle. Program funding includes funds for emerging requirements to support program office operations, management services (Federally Funded Research and Development Centers [FFRDC], Advisory and Assistance Services [A&AS], etc.), Program Management Support (PMS), security, facilities, prototyping, equipment, integrate Digital Engineering and other efforts as required to establish the required program office capabilities. Funding will also support all activities required to award and execute development contract(s) for the LG-N Weapon System to include supporting test activities and prototype, development, sustainment, and integration activities of Nuclear Command, Control, and Communications (NC3) or other Department of War (DoW) programs required to meet mission requirements. This program element included all necessary 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 elements 0605829F, 0605831F, 0605833F, and 0605898F. This effort is in Budget Activity 4, Advanced Component Development and Prototypes (ACD&P), because efforts are necessary to evaluate integrated technologies, representative modes or prototype systems in a high fidelity and realistic operating environment.

**Named R-3 performers** (share of this project's FY2027 R-3 total, so they need not reach 100%)**:** Hanscom AFB (10.8, 16%), Bedford, MA (10.0, 15%).

| Activity (R-2A) | FY2025 | FY2026 | FY2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Looking Glass - Next (LG-N) | 0.0 | 0.0 | 65.3 |

> 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 | 32% | 20.8 |
| Other / unspecified | 68% | 44.5 |

**Top named industry performers:** Hanscom AFB ($10.8M, 16%), Bedford, MA ($10.0M, 15%).

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

## Mission & acquisition strategy

Looking Glass - Next (LG-N) is a pre-Major Defense Acquisition Program (MDAP) to recapitalize the Looking Glass (previously known as Airborne National Command Post (ABNCP)) and provide Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) Secondary Launch Capability (SLC). To satisfy operational requirements, the LG-N weapon system will be comprised of an air vehicle, mission systems, and ground support systems. The air vehicle will be hardened to protect against nuclear and electromagnetic effects and use a Modular Open System Approach (MOSA) for a mission system that will integrate secure communications and planning capabilities on modern information technology (IT) infrastructure.

The LG-N acquisition strategy is currently under development. The program office will look at ways to expand the industrial base, accelerate commercial preference, develop incentives that maximize industry creativity, and create best value for the government while reducing program risk. With early and frequent engagement between program office, operators, and industry, we will establish strong partnerships to take advantage of acquisition opportunities and balance acquisition and operational risk. The LG-N Program Management Office (PMO) expects acquisition strategy approval in 4th quarter FY 2026.

## Related program elements

- [0604009F — Afwerx](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0604009F) (Air Force)
- [0603512N — Carrier Systems Development](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0603512N) (Navy)
- [0604852A — Suite of Survivability Enhancement Systems - EMD](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0604852A) (Army)
- [0604873C — Long Range Discrimination Radar (LRDR)](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0604873C) (Defense-Wide)

## Source & machine access

- **Source:** FY2027 Department of the Air Force RDT&E Budget Justification, Exhibits R-2/R-3, PE 0302060F (PB PB2027); FY2027 NDAA committee marks (as of 2026-07-27).
- **MCP:** `mcp.hitchintel.com` — `budget_get_program_element(pe="0302060F")`.

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