# RC-135 Systems — Program Element 0305207F

**Program element:** 0305207F  
**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/0305207F

## Summary

U.S. Air Force funding falls 40% to a $17.1M request in FY2027 (down from a FY2026 peak), 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. L3Harris leads the industry work.

## Funding profile

| Fiscal Year | Estimate Type | Amount ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | Actual | 18.3 |
| FY2026 | Enacted | 28.7 |
| FY2027 | Request | 17.1 |
| FY2028 | Outyear | 17.7 |
| FY2029 | Outyear | 18.1 |
| FY2030 | Outyear | 18.4 |
| FY2031 | Outyear | 18.8 |

> 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 | 17.1 | — |
| House NDAA (HASC) | 17.1 | +0.0 |
| Senate NDAA (SASC) | 17.1 | +0.0 |
| House Approps (HAC-D) | 17.1 | +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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 674754 | RC-135 Systems | 18.3 | 28.7 | 17.1 | −40% |

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

### Project 674754 — RC-135 Systems

RC-135 operational systems development and enhancement activities support design studies, engineering analysis, non-recurring engineering and other efforts associated with the integration and modification of the RC-135 programs and their specialized mission systems, both air and ground. Associated ground systems include RIVET JOINT Ground Data Processing Systems (GDPS), Distributed Mission Shelters (DMS), Mission Crew Training Systems (MCTS), Airborne Capabilities Extension System (ACES), and the Operational Flight Trainers (OFT, a.k.a. flight deck simulators). RC-135 funding also supports innovation activities to include studies, analyses, requirements definition, and quick-reaction capability prototypes/demonstrations to accelerate planning for technology transition, technology insertion and future acquisition programs. Extensive utilization of Commercial-Off-The-Shelf (COTS) based solutions allows rapid fielding of needed capabilities through upgrades and supports Diminishing Manufacturing Sources (DMS)/Vanishing Vendor Items (VVI) logistics mitigation efforts. The results of these efforts provide for preliminary assessments of technical feasibility, operability, or military utility as well as specific engineering implementations for integration into the various systems baseline configurations. These activities are managed by the 645th Aeronautical Systems Group (645 AESG). The 645 AESG (a.k.a. BIG SAFARI) manages engineering, ground and support systems modifications, integration, flight testing, product assurance, acceptance testing, logistics, and training activities. Aircraft, sensor systems, and associated ground support system engineering planned for FY 2027 budget includes developmental planning, execution and support for the RC-135V/W RIVET JOINT Baselines 13, 14, and 15 (BL-13, BL-14, and BL-15), the RC-135U COMBAT SENT Baselines 6 and 15 (BL-6 and BL-15), and the RC-135S COBRA BALL BL-7, BL-14, and BL-15 configurations. COMBAT SENT has renumbered their baselines going forward to align with RIVET JOINT baseline numbering to take advantage of the baseline commonalities for technical manuals, training systems, contracting, and security certifications.

**Named R-3 performers** (share of this project's FY2027 R-3 total, so they need not reach 100%)**:** L3Harris (17.1, 100%).

| Activity (R-2A) | FY2025 | FY2026 | FY2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manned Reconnaissance Systems | 18.3 | 28.7 | 17.1 |

> 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 | 100% | 17.1 |

**Top named industry performers:** L3Harris ($17.1M, 100%).

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

## Mission & acquisition strategy

RC-135 operational systems development and enhancement activities support design studies, engineering analysis, non-recurring engineering and other efforts associated with the integration and modification of the RC-135 programs and their specialized mission systems, both air and ground. Associated ground systems include RIVET JOINT Ground Data Processing Systems (GDPS), Distributed Mission Shelters (DMS), Mission Crew Training Systems (MCTS), Airborne Capabilities Extension System (ACES), and the Operational Flight Trainers (OFT, a.k.a. flight deck simulators).

The RC-135 RIVET JOINT, COBRA BALL, and COMBAT SENT configured aircraft are maintained and kept technologically relevant through an incremental baseline upgrade acquisition strategy. Technology upgrades and Quick Reaction Capability (QRC) developments are acquired through the 645 AESG in accordance with the BIG SAFARI Program Management Directive (PMD) and Class Justification and Approval (J&A) document for acquisition of supplies and services using an "other than full and open competition" criteria.

## Related program elements

- [0206623M — MC Ground Cmbt Spt Arms Sys](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0206623M) (Navy)
- [0401132F — C-130J Program](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0401132F) (Air Force)
- [1206862SF — Tactically Responsive Space (TacRS)](https://hitchintel.com/programs/1206862SF) (Space Force)
- [0304260F — Airborne SIGINT Enterprise](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0304260F) (Air Force)

## Source & machine access

- **Source:** FY2027 Department of the Air Force RDT&E Budget Justification, Exhibits R-2/R-3, PE 0305207F (PB PB2027); FY2027 NDAA committee marks (as of 2026-07-27).
- **MCP:** `mcp.hitchintel.com` — `budget_get_program_element(pe="0305207F")`.

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