# RQ-4 UAV — Program Element 0305220F

**Program element:** 0305220F  
**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/0305220F

## Summary

U.S. Air Force requests $0.0M in FY2027.

## Funding profile

| Fiscal Year | Estimate Type | Amount ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | Actual | 6.2 |
| FY2026 | Enacted | 0.0 |
| FY2027 | Request | 0.0 |
| FY2028 | Outyear | 0.0 |
| 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.

## Projects (1)

| Project | Title | FY2025 actual | FY2026 enacted | FY2027 request | Move |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 675149 | RQ-4 Capability Enhancements | 6.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — |

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

### Project 675149 — RQ-4 Capability Enhancements

Funding in this project supports design, development, integration, and testing of capabilities needed to maintain Block 40 capabilities and maximize system performance until divestment, including reliability and maintainability improvements. Funding also supports continuing aircraft airframe updates, aircraft operations surety, cybersecurity, information assurance, and mission critical repair of Government Furnished Equipment (GFE). This project includes systems engineering/program management, configuration and data management, test and evaluation, management services, Deficiency Report (DR)/Military Intelligence Program (MIP) Investigations, studies and analysis and fielding support for RQ-4 aircraft and Ground Segment/Communication Systems. The project also ensures compliance with DoD cybersecurity network requirements to operate in the DoD Information Network (DoDIN). This reflects contracting/acquisition strategy for these common elements within the Global Hawk program to provide efficiencies. Activities include required airspace, interoperability and communication updates, periodic Operational Flight Program releases, airframe and software upgrades, sensor enhancements including data distribution and storage, enhancements to support multi-domain contested environment operations, Authority to Operate surety enhancements, and studies and analysis supporting system maintenance and divestment. The RQ-4 program will maintain interoperability with system of systems partners and continue to incorporate applicable synergies with other platforms, other RPA weapon systems, and Processing, Exploitation & Dissemination (PED) elements. The networking capability for intelligence dissemination is required to provide the data transport interface between the Weapons System, Operations Centers, and external Intelligence Community customers. This program element may include necessary civilian pay expenses required to manage, execute, and deliver weapon system capability. The use of such program's funds would be in addition to the civilian pay expenses budgeted in program element 0605829F, 0605831F, 0605833F, or 0605898F. In FY 2025, civilian pay expenses were 2.096M in this program element. In FY 2026, RQ-4 execution transitioned to O&M, supporting sustainment profile until divestment.

| Activity (R-2A) | FY2025 | FY2026 | FY2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| RQ-4 Infrastructure | 6.2 | 0.0 | 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

Funding in this project supports design, development, integration, and testing of capabilities needed to maintain Block 40 capabilities and maximize system performance until divestment, including reliability and maintainability improvements. Funding also supports continuing aircraft airframe updates, aircraft operations surety, cybersecurity, information assurance, and mission critical repair of Government Furnished Equipment (GFE).

The RQ-4 program's acquisition strategy is focused on supporting the existing RQ-4 Block 40 fleet and maintaining its Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) capability until divestment. Northrop Grumman Corporation serves as the prime contractor, responsible for delivering sustainment and support services. The program utilizes a suite of contract vehicles, primarily Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contracts, to cover activities including sustainment, retrofit, fielding, and contract closeout.

## Related program elements

- [0101213F — Minuteman Squadrons](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0101213F) (Air Force)
- [0605035A — Common Infrared Countermeasures (CIRCM)](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0605035A) (Army)
- [0604182A — Hypersonics](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0604182A) (Army)
- [1208053SF — Joint Tactical Ground Station](https://hitchintel.com/programs/1208053SF) (Space Force)

## Source & machine access

- **Source:** FY2027 Department of the Air Force RDT&E Budget Justification, Exhibits R-2/R-3, PE 0305220F (PB PB2027).
- **MCP:** `mcp.hitchintel.com` — `budget_get_program_element(pe="0305220F")`.

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