# Distributed Common Ground/Surface Systems — Program Element 0305208F

**Program element:** 0305208F  
**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/0305208F

## Summary

U.S. Air Force requests $85.4M in FY2027. 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 | 99.7 |
| FY2026 | Enacted | 81.0 |
| FY2027 | Request | 85.4 |
| FY2028 | Outyear | 68.7 |
| FY2029 | Outyear | 70.6 |
| FY2030 | Outyear | 67.9 |
| FY2031 | Outyear | 69.7 |

> 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 | 85.4 | — |
| House NDAA (HASC) | 85.4 | +0.0 |
| Senate NDAA (SASC) | 85.4 | +0.0 |
| House Approps (HAC-D) | 85.4 | +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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 674826 | Common Imagery Ground / Surface Systems | 99.7 | 81.0 | 85.4 | +5% |

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

### Project 674826 — Common Imagery Ground / Surface Systems

In FY 2026, AF DCGS transitioned from four ACAT III efforts (GEOINT Transformation, SIGINT Transformation, Multi-INT Transformation, and Network Infrastructure Transformation) to one Software Acquisition Pathway (SWP), encompassing Mission Applications, Mission Data Services, and DCGS Operations Integration and Transformation (OI&T), and maintain the Network Infrastructure Transformation (NIT) ACAT III. The SWP with its realigned categories consist of the efforts formerly in the GEOINT Transformation, SIGINT Transformation and Multi-INT Infrastructure ACATs. 1. GEOINT Transformation-1: Rapidly integrates new and updated GEOINT capabilities and enables quick/seamless integration of new sensors, data types, sensor planning, and command and control (C2) capabilities on to the AF DCGS resilient, distributed architecture to meet mission assured requirements and enable DCGS' analyst global orchestration, sense-making, tailored analysis (battlespace awareness, battlespace characterization, and targetable custody tasks). Leverages mission partner methods and tools to the maximum extent possible. 2. SIGINT Transformation-1: Rapidly integrates new and updated SIGINT capabilities and enables quick/seamless integration of new sensors, data types, sensor planning, command and control (C2), and data link visualization capabilities on to the AF DCGS resilient, distributed architecture to meet mission assured requirements and enable DCGS' analyst global orchestration, sense-making, tailored analysis (battlespace awareness, battlespace characterization, and targetable custody tasks). Leverages mission partner methods and tools to the maximum extent possible. 3. Multi-Intelligence-1: Rapidly integrates new and updated enterprise services, core shared services and applications to include voice and chat communications, collaboration, and situational awareness, Enterprise Multi-INT Data and Services (EMDS), Multi-INT fusion, and data analytics capabilities (to include Artificial Intelligence/ Machine Learning (AI/ML), Automation and Augmentation (AAA)) on to the AF DCGS resilient, distributed architecture to meet mission assured requirements and enable DCGS' analyst global orchestration, sense-making, tailored analysis (battlespace awareness, battlespace characterization, and targetable custody) tasks.

| Activity (R-2A) | FY2025 | FY2026 | FY2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| GEOINT Transformation-1 | 20.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| SIGINT Transformation-1 | 31.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Multi-Intelligence-1 | 47.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Network Infrastructure Transformation | 1.3 | 0.9 | 0.9 |
| Mission Applications | 0.0 | 48.6 | 53.2 |
| Mission Data Services | 0.0 | 17.5 | 17.3 |
| Ops Integration and Transformation (OI&T) | 0.0 | 14.1 | 14.0 |

> 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Other / unspecified | 100% | 85.4 |

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

## Mission & acquisition strategy

In FY 2026, AF DCGS transitioned from four ACAT III efforts (GEOINT Transformation, SIGINT Transformation, Multi-INT Transformation, and Network Infrastructure Transformation) to one Software Acquisition Pathway (SWP), encompassing Mission Applications, Mission Data Services, and DCGS Operations Integration and Transformation (OI&T), and maintain the Network Infrastructure Transformation (NIT) ACAT III. The SWP with its realigned categories consist of the efforts formerly in the GEOINT Transformation, SIGINT Transformation and Multi-INT Infrastructure ACATs. 1.

AF DCGS acquisition strategy is to use approved lean and agile industry practices and leverage to the maximum extent possible commercial off the shelf, government off the shelf, and mission partner capabilities to continuously develop and field new and improved operational capabilities hosted on its open, resilient distributed cloud infrastructure to meet mission requirements. Contracting strategy involves a combination of Basic Ordering Agreements (BOAs), Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contracts awarded to execute program funds and delivery/task orders are negotiated/awarded individually.

## Related program elements

- [0604264N — Air Crew Systems Development](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0604264N) (Navy)
- [0605275A — Electronic Warfare Systems Development](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0605275A) (Army)
- [0606005F — Digital Transformation Office](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0606005F) (Air Force)
- [0304270A — Electronic Warfare Development](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0304270A) (Army)

## Source & machine access

- **Source:** FY2027 Department of the Air Force RDT&E Budget Justification, Exhibits R-2/R-3, PE 0305208F (PB PB2027); FY2027 NDAA committee marks (as of 2026-07-27).
- **MCP:** `mcp.hitchintel.com` — `budget_get_program_element(pe="0305208F")`.

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