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

**Program element:** 0305208M  
**Component:** U.S. Navy  
**Appropriation:** 1319 — RDT&E, Navy  
**Budget Activity:** 7 — Operational System Development  
**Vintage:** President's Budget PB2027  
**Canonical URL:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/0305208M

## Summary

U.S. Navy funding falls 100% to a $0.0M request in FY2027 (down from a FY2026 peak).

## Funding profile

| Fiscal Year | Estimate Type | Amount ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | Actual | 45.6 |
| FY2026 | Enacted | 61.2 |
| FY2027 | Request | 0.0 |
| FY2028 | Outyear | 2.5 |
| FY2029 | Outyear | 2.6 |
| FY2030 | Outyear | 2.8 |
| FY2031 | Outyear | 2.9 |

> Estimate types are not summed — the profile mixes actuals, enacted law, the request, and outyear projections.

## Projects (1)

| Project | Title | FY2025 actual | FY2026 enacted | FY2027 request | Move |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2268 | Distributed Common Ground System (DCGS-MC) | 45.6 | 61.2 | 0.0 | −100% |

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

### Project 2268 — Distributed Common Ground System (DCGS-MC)

This is a Military Intelligence Program (MIP) Program Element. Distributed Common Ground System-Marine Corps (DCGS-MC) is a critical Commandant of the Marine Corps Force Design program focused on Reconnaissance/Counter-Reconnaissance that senses and makes sense of the forward operating area; providing robust multi-intelligence processing, exploitation, and dissemination (PED) activities to include sensor fusion and correlation. As the forward sensing element of the maritime force, DCGS-MC provides the foundation for algorithmic warfare at the tactical edge pushing validated target quality information to enable global long range precision fires. DCGS-MC complies with the DCGS Enterprise interoperability and information sharing requirements necessary for PED capabilities via consolidated functional servers, workstations, cloud computing, and advanced technological processing capabilities from a contested, tactical environment to the integrated Marine Corps Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Enterprise (MCISRE). DCGS-MC capabilities deliver tactically focused, operational, and strategic intelligence across all echelons of the Marine Corps at the tactical edge throughout all phases of operations to provide relevant, precise battlespace awareness, and threat characterization for the Joint Task Force, Naval Force, Marine Air-Ground Task Force, and subordinate Marine units in support of Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations and Distributed Maritime Operations. Modernization efforts are focused on advanced all-domain information environment tools, and technologies that enable superior awareness of the battlespace. The capabilities reduce the logistical and cognitive burden on the individual Marine by reducing size, weight, and power and provide advanced computing capabilities at the forward edge in a contested environment against a peer adversary. Current programmatic efforts support a multi-domain sensing architecture, organic sensing, mobile battlespace awareness, and increased integration with space and cyber systems.

| Activity (R-2A) | FY2025 | FY2026 | FY2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| TSCAC: Product Development | 1.5 | 1.8 | 0.0 |
| TSCAC: Test and Evaluation | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0.0 |
| TSCAC: Support | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.0 |
| DCGS-MC GEOINT: Product Development | 3.0 | 10.7 | 0.0 |
| DCGS-MC GEOINT: Test and Evaluation | 0.8 | 2.8 | 0.0 |
| DCGS-MC GEOINT: Support | 0.5 | 1.6 | 0.0 |
| DCGS-MC All Source: Product Development | 4.1 | 6.3 | 0.0 |
| DCGS-MC All Source: Test and Evaluation | 1.2 | 1.6 | 0.0 |
| DCGS-MC All Source Support | 1.2 | 0.5 | 0.0 |
| FITE: Product Development | 22.2 | 23.2 | 0.0 |
| FITE: Test and Evaluation | 7.7 | 8.5 | 0.0 |
| FITE: Support | 2.7 | 2.8 | 0.0 |
| Publicly Available Information (PAI) Open Source Intelligence (OSINT):Product Development | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 |

> R-2A activities carry the prior, current and budget year only — no five-year plan. Coverage is partial, so count them, never total them.

## Mission & acquisition strategy

This is a Military Intelligence Program (MIP) Program Element. Distributed Common Ground System-Marine Corps (DCGS-MC) is a critical Commandant of the Marine Corps Force Design program focused on Reconnaissance/Counter-Reconnaissance that senses and makes sense of the forward operating area; providing robust multi-intelligence processing, exploitation, and dissemination (PED) activities to include sensor fusion and correlation. As the forward sensing element of the maritime force, DCGS-MC provides the foundation for algorithmic warfare at the tactical edge pushing validated target quality information to enable global long range precision fires.

The acquisition strategy follows a hybrid approach consisting of a viable mix of alternatives that allows flexibility, agility, and rapid fielding of new capabilities. This evolutionary approach provides users with time-phased increments of capabilities that promote earlier delivery, improves affordability, and reduces risk. The evolutionary approach enables DCGS-MC to effectively assess and leverage emerging technologies to accelerate introduction into the Marine Corps Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance Enterprise. DCGS-MC capabilities will be fielded in increments through operational capability drops.

## Related program elements

- [0604035A — Low Earth Orbit (LEO) Satellite Capability](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0604035A) (Army)
- [0604257F — Advanced Technology and Sensors](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0604257F) (Air Force)
- [0605022D8Z — Defense Exportability Features (DEF) Program](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0605022D8Z) (Defense-Wide)
- [0304109F — Thresher](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0304109F) (Air Force)

## Source & machine access

- **Source:** FY2027 Department of the Navy RDT&E Budget Justification, Exhibits R-2/R-3, PE 0305208M (PB PB2027).
- **MCP:** `mcp.hitchintel.com` — `budget_get_program_element(pe="0305208M")`.

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