# Policy R&D Programs — Program Element 0305186D8Z

**Program element:** 0305186D8Z  
**Component:** Defense-Wide  
**Appropriation:** 0400 — RDT&E, Defense-Wide  
**Budget Activity:** 7 — Operational System Development  
**Vintage:** President's Budget PB2027  
**Canonical URL:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/0305186D8Z

## Summary

Defense-Wide funding ramps 96% to a $11.7M 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 funded it in full.

## Funding profile

| Fiscal Year | Estimate Type | Amount ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | Actual | 6.1 |
| FY2026 | Enacted | 6.0 |
| FY2027 | Request | 11.7 |
| FY2028 | Outyear | 11.8 |
| FY2029 | Outyear | 12.0 |
| FY2030 | Outyear | 12.2 |
| FY2031 | Outyear | 12.5 |

> 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 | 11.7 | — |
| House NDAA (HASC) | 11.7 | +0.0 |
| Senate NDAA (SASC) | 11.7 | +0.0 |
| House Approps (HAC-D) | 11.7 | +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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 186 | Policy R&D Programs | 6.1 | 6.0 | 11.7 | +96% |

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

### Project 186 — Policy R&D Programs

The Policy R&D Program supports the interim National Defense Strategy by providing analysis to overcome military security challenges. The global security environment is dynamic and complex. Continuous research and analysis is necessary for understanding foreign military structures and capabilities, as well as for developing mid- to long-term anticipatory and strategic perspectives on security issues. These perspectives can then guide necessary changes to policies, strategies, processes, and capabilities that advance U.S. and interests. This program blends multiple research disciplines including policy, sciences, and engineering to better understand matters affecting strategy, planning, management of international alliances and partnerships, crisis preparedness and response, budgetary and operational oversight, cyber and space challenges, special operations, homeland defense, nuclear and missile defense, and other emerging threats to the national security of the US. The program also supports statutorily directed requirements related to Office of the Under Secretary of War for Policy mission areas.

| Activity (R-2A) | FY2025 | FY2026 | FY2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Future Security Challenges | 2.4 | 2.3 | 2.0 |
| Long Term Competitions (LTC) Program | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 |
| Defense Planning Scenarios Activities | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.7 |
| Modernize and Transform Analytics | — | — | 6.0 |

> 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Government labs & warfare centers | 100% | 11.7 |

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

## Mission & acquisition strategy

The Policy R&D Program supports the interim National Defense Strategy by providing analysis to overcome military security challenges. The global security environment is dynamic and complex. Continuous research and analysis is necessary for understanding foreign military structures and capabilities, as well as for developing mid- to long-term anticipatory and strategic perspectives on security issues. These perspectives can then guide necessary changes to policies, strategies, processes, and capabilities that advance U.S. and interests.

N/A

## Related program elements

- [0603727D8Z — Joint Warfighting Program (JWP)](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0603727D8Z) (Defense-Wide)
- [0604233F — Specialized Undergraduate Flight Training](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0604233F) (Air Force)
- [0603834D8Z — Biosurveillance Program Advanced Technology Development](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0603834D8Z) (Defense-Wide)
- [0603721N — Environmental Protection](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0603721N) (Navy)

## Source & machine access

- **Source:** FY2027 Office of the Secretary of Defense RDT&E Budget Justification, Exhibits R-2/R-3, PE 0305186D8Z (PB PB2027); FY2027 NDAA committee marks (as of 2026-07-27).
- **MCP:** `mcp.hitchintel.com` — `budget_get_program_element(pe="0305186D8Z")`.

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