# Project 2134 — Shipboard IW Exploit

**Program element:** 0304785N — ISR & INFO Operations  
**Project:** 2134  
**Component:** U.S. Navy  
**Appropriation:** 1319 — RDT&E, Navy  
**Budget Activity:** 5 — System Development & Demonstration  
**Vintage:** President's Budget PB2027  
**Canonical URL:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/0304785N/2134  
**Parent:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/0304785N

## Summary

Project 2134 — Shipboard IW Exploit requests $214.2M in FY2027, 78% of the $274.5M requested for program element 0304785N, up 58% on FY2026. 8 R-2A activities decompose the request, 1 new this cycle. NIWC PAC is the largest named R-3 performer at $7.7M, 3.6% of the project's FY2027 R-3 total.

## Funding profile

| Fiscal Year | Estimate Type | Amount ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | Actual | 121.0 |
| FY2026 | Enacted | 135.6 |
| FY2027 | Request | 214.2 |
| FY2028 | Outyear | 172.1 |
| FY2029 | Outyear | 169.7 |
| FY2030 | Outyear | 155.2 |
| FY2031 | Outyear | 155.4 |

> Estimate types are not summed. This project is one leaf of PE 0304785N; the PE total is the sum of its projects, never added to them.

## What project 2134 buys

The Shipboard Information Warfare (IW) Exploit project consists of the Ship's Signal Exploitation Equipment (SSEE) Increment F (and variants), SSEE Modifications, Spectral, Integrated Communications and Data Systems (ICADS) Increment II, ICADS Increment III, Horizon, Distributed Operations (DO), Pacific Fleet (PACFLT) Urgent Operational Need (UON), and Advanced Information Warfare Antennas (AIWA). SSEE Increment F (and its variants) is the primary, currently fielded system providing full-scope, simultaneous capability, while system variants bring a new dimension of afloat Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) capabilities with advanced scalability and modularity for mission planners to execute. SSEE Modifications is a classified tactical signals intelligence frequency extension capability integrated with the SSEE Increment F host system and is broken into two major components: Paragon, which provides simultaneous detection, collection, processing, IO, and display of communication intelligence data from hostile, high threat, and adversary platforms in select frequency ranges not prosecuted or countered with the host system; and the Graywing subsystem which is an advanced common data link with SSEE Increment F systems. Spectral is the Navy's next-generation SIGINT, EMW, and IO weapons system enabling both maritime IW/EW for both Naval Carrier and Expeditionary Strike Group operations. Spectral's primary objective is to provide our Navy's operators with the most capable Radio Frequency (RF) SIGINT collection and exploitation weapons system available to support the widest range of maritime strategic and tactical mission areas, including I&W, targeting, and ship's self defense. Spectral provides scalable, mission configurable, and modular capabilities using a common user interface through an open software architecture to allow rapid integration and deployment of special use capabilities satisfying Navy and Joint maritime intelligence requirements beyond what existing systems can provide. The Advanced IW Antenna (AIWA) program will develop and procure antennas to enable needed/relevant maritime and surface Information Operations (e.g., Electronic Warfare (EW), Electronic Attack (EA), Signals Intelligence (SIGINT)) for Ship's Signal Exploitation Equipment (SSEE) Increment F and Modifications, Spectral, and other IW programs held at higher classification.

**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 |
|---|---|---|
| NIWC PAC | 7.7 | 3.6% |
| BAH | 4.0 | 1.9% |
| NIWC LANT/PAC | 2.5 | 1.2% |
| NRL | 0.8 | 0.4% |

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

## Activities (R-2A) — 8

| Activity | FY2025 | FY2026 | FY2027 | Move | Page |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pacific Fleet (PACFLT) Urgent Operational Need (UON) | 0.0 | 0.0 | 81.9 | new | — |
| Spectral | 52.3 | 48.2 | 57.4 | +19% | [a1](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0304785N/2134/a1) |
| Distributed Operations (DO) | 0.0 | 28.7 | 26.3 | −8% | [a6](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0304785N/2134/a6) |
| Advanced Information Warfare (IW) Antennas | 21.6 | 20.6 | 19.2 | −7% | [a3](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0304785N/2134/a3) |
| Horizon | 18.9 | 19.1 | 15.3 | −20% | [a4](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0304785N/2134/a4) |
| Integrated Communications and Data Systems Increment II (ICADS Inc II) | 24.3 | 14.2 | 10.0 | −29% | — |
| Ship's Signal Exploitation Equipment Inc F (SSEE Inc F) | 3.5 | 4.5 | 3.7 | −17% | — |
| Ship's Signal Exploitation Equipment Modifications (SSEE Modifications) | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | −0% | — |

> 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.

### Pacific Fleet (PACFLT) Urgent Operational Need (UON) — NEW START

**FY2027 planned work.** The details of the PACFLT UON sub-project are classified SECRET and are submitted annually to Congress in the classified budget justification books.

**FY2026 to FY2027 change.** The details of the PACFLT UON sub-project are classified SECRET and are submitted annually to Congress in the classified budget justification books.

### Spectral

- Continue correcting deficiencies identified during the FCR-0 ICTs. - Continue implementation of design changes for Fleet Capability Release #1 (FCR-1). - Develop test plans, procedures, and acquisition documentation for Spectral product line. - Integrate capability enhancements for SSC-W virtualization, SSC-S virtualization, Medusa…

Full year-by-year narrative: https://hitchintel.com/programs/0304785N/2134/a1

### Distributed Operations (DO)

The details of the Distributed Operations (DO) sub-project are classified SECRET and are submitted annually to Congress in the classified budget justification books.

Full year-by-year narrative: https://hitchintel.com/programs/0304785N/2134/a6

### Advanced Information Warfare (IW) Antennas

- Complete development of a new High Frequency (HF) Direction Finding (DF) antenna and a Very/Ultra High Frequency (V/UHF) transmit antenna. - Complete development of updated antenna form factor and associated electronics for the AS-4683 L-Band antenna. - Complete the NewGRAD, a hemi broadband antenna required to meet Graywing mission…

Full year-by-year narrative: https://hitchintel.com/programs/0304785N/2134/a3

### Horizon

The details of the Horizon sub-project are classified SECRET and are submitted annually to Congress in the classified budget justification books.

Full year-by-year narrative: https://hitchintel.com/programs/0304785N/2134/a4

### Integrated Communications and Data Systems Increment II (ICADS Inc II)

**FY2027 planned work.** The details of the ICADS sub-project are classified SECRET and are submitted annually to Congress in the classified budget justification books.

**FY2026 to FY2027 change.** The details of the ICADS sub-project are classified SECRET and are submitted annually to Congress in the classified budget justification books.

**FY2026 plans — current year.** The details of the ICADS sub-project are classified SECRET and are submitted annually to Congress in the classified budget justification books.

### Ship's Signal Exploitation Equipment Inc F (SSEE Inc F)

**FY2027 planned work.** -Continue P3I and software development to provide enhanced capabilities into the SSEE Increment F system and its variants by continuing to develop, refine, and test new cyber capabilities. These unexplored and unexploited capabilities are in alignment with Joint and service level cryptologic requirements. These include, but are not limited to, advanced Medusa applications and techniques, signal collection and exploitation capabilities through added signal processing capacity and data flows (details held at higher classification), capability drop packages to deliver capability to the Fleet. - Continue to develop and deliver SIGINT and EW capabilities based upon the warfighter-identified FY 2027 SOIs threats (updated annually) for integration into the SSEE Increment F systems (including its variants) and deliver as required to meet Fleet requirements.

**FY2026 to FY2027 change.** SSEE Inc F FY 2026 to FY 2027 decreased (-$0.762M) due to the completion of development and integration of Snakehead and Samurai capabilities into the system baseline.

**FY2026 plans — current year.** - Continue P3I and software development to provide enhanced capabilities into the SSEE Increment F system and its variants by continuing to develop, refine, and test new cyber capabilities. These unexplored and unexploited capabilities are in alignment with Joint and service level cryptologic requirements. These include, but are not limited to, advanced Medusa applications and techniques, signal collection and exploitation capabilities through added signal processing capacity and data flows (details held at higher classification), capability drop packages to deliver capability to the Fleet. - Continue to develop and deliver SIGINT and EW capabilities based upon the warfighter-identified FY 2026 SOIs threats (updated annually) for integration into the SSEE Increment F systems (including its variants) and deliver as required to meet Fleet requirements. - Complete development and integration of Snakehead and Samurai capabilities into the system baseline.

### Ship's Signal Exploitation Equipment Modifications (SSEE Modifications)

**FY2027 planned work.** - Continue hardware and software development to bring advanced capabilities to the Fleet for simultaneous detection, collection, processing, electronic warfare and display of communication intelligence data from hostile, high threat and adversary platforms in select extended frequency ranges not prosecuted today. - Continue software development for recurring software releases for Graywing Gen 3 to provide updates to pace the relevant signal threat.

**FY2026 to FY2027 change.** No significant changes from FY 2026 to FY 2027

**FY2026 plans — current year.** - Continue hardware and software development to bring advanced capabilities to the Fleet for simultaneous detection, collection, processing, electronic warfare and display of communication intelligence data from hostile, high threat and adversary platforms in select extended frequency ranges not prosecuted today. - Continue software development for recurring software releases for Graywing Gen 3 to provide updates to pace the relevant signal threat.

## 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/0304785N.

## Source & machine access

- **Source:** FY2027 Department of the Navy RDT&E Budget Justification, Exhibits R-2/R-2A/R-3, PE 0304785N project 2134 (PB PB2027).
- **MCP:** `mcp.hitchintel.com` — `budget_get_program_element(pe="0304785N")`.

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