# WS3 Vault Modernization — Program Element 0305155F

**Program element:** 0305155F  
**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/0305155F

## Summary

U.S. Air Force requests $24.4M in FY2027 against nothing enacted in FY2026 — the program's peak, with nothing planned by FY2031. In the FY2027 defense authorization, the House funded it in full; the Senate funded it in full; House appropriators funded it in full.

## Funding profile

| Fiscal Year | Estimate Type | Amount ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | Actual | 0.0 |
| FY2026 | Enacted | 0.0 |
| FY2027 | Request | 24.4 |
| FY2028 | Outyear | 21.5 |
| 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 | 24.4 | — |
| House NDAA (HASC) | 24.4 | +0.0 |
| Senate NDAA (SASC) | 24.4 | +0.0 |
| House Approps (HAC-D) | 24.4 | +0.0 |

> 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 674612 | WS3 Vault Modernization | 0.0 | 0.0 | 24.4 | new start |

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

### Project 674612 — WS3 Vault Modernization

The Weapon Storage and Security System (WS3) is a US maintained/operated system of systems that supports the nuclear mission by providing the capability to securely and safely store resources deployed in Europe. The Vault Modernization Program (VMP) ensures National Security Directive 42 (NSD-42) compliance and addresses system obsolescence issues. Detailed information is classified and can be provided. Funding is required for VMP to deliver an NSD-42 compliant encryption system necessary to secure forward deployed nuclear weapons in Europe in time to meet the required need date. A non-compliance will result in the need for US and NATO partner nations to post unplanned and unfunded security forces continuously until a compliant encryption system is delivered and installed. Detailed information is classified and can be provided. 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 program is in Budget Activity 7, Operational System Development because this budget activity includes development efforts to upgrade systems that have been fielded or have received approval for full rate production and anticipate production funding in the current or subsequent fiscal year.

| Activity (R-2A) | FY2025 | FY2026 | FY2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vault Modernization Program (VMP) | — | 0.0 | 24.4 |

> 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Other / unspecified | 100% | 24.4 |

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

## Mission & acquisition strategy

The Weapon Storage and Security System (WS3) is a US maintained/operated system of systems that supports the nuclear mission by providing the capability to securely and safely store resources deployed in Europe. The Vault Modernization Program (VMP) ensures National Security Directive 42 (NSD-42) compliance and addresses system obsolescence issues. Detailed information is classified and can be provided. Funding is required for VMP to deliver an NSD-42 compliant encryption system necessary to secure forward deployed nuclear weapons in Europe in time to meet the required need date.

N/A

## Related program elements

- [0604281F — Tactical Data Networks Enterprise](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0604281F) (Air Force)
- [0603724N — Navy Energy Program](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0603724N) (Navy)
- [0604617F — Agile Combat Support](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0604617F) (Air Force)
- [0605042A — Tactical Network Radio Systems (Low-Tier)](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0605042A) (Army)

## Source & machine access

- **Source:** FY2027 Department of the Air Force RDT&E Budget Justification, Exhibits R-2/R-3, PE 0305155F (PB PB2027); FY2027 NDAA committee marks (as of 2026-07-27).
- **MCP:** `mcp.hitchintel.com` — `budget_get_program_element(pe="0305155F")`.

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