# Common Data Link (CDL) — Program Element 0305236F

**Program element:** 0305236F  
**Component:** U.S. Air Force  
**Appropriation:** 3600 — RDT&E, Air Force  
**Budget Activity:** 4 — Advanced Component Development & Prototypes  
**Vintage:** President's Budget PB2027  
**Canonical URL:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/0305236F

## Summary

U.S. Air Force funding falls 19% to a $26.4M request in FY2027, sustained across the five-year plan. In the FY2027 defense authorization, the House cut 10.0% (to $23.8M); the Senate funded it in full; House appropriators funded it in full. NSA leads the industry work, though an unusually large share flows to government labs and warfare centers.

## Funding profile

| Fiscal Year | Estimate Type | Amount ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | Actual | 33.3 |
| FY2026 | Enacted | 32.5 |
| FY2027 | Request | 26.4 |
| FY2028 | Outyear | 27.7 |
| FY2029 | Outyear | 28.4 |
| FY2030 | Outyear | 29.1 |
| FY2031 | Outyear | 29.8 |

> 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 | 26.4 | — |
| House NDAA (HASC) | 23.8 | −2.6 |
| Senate NDAA (SASC) | 26.4 | +0.0 |
| House Approps (HAC-D) | 26.4 | +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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 641334 | Common Data Link (CDL) | 33.3 | 32.5 | 26.4 | −19% |

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

### Project 641334 — Common Data Link (CDL)

Common Data Link Executive Agent (CDL EA) provides the DoW standard for interoperable, multi-service, multi-agency, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) datalinks for 15,000 DoW manned/unmanned airborne and ground terminals. The project advances CDL through partnership with each of the Services, NSA, JITC, FFRDCs, and Industry. As the DoW CDL EA, the Air Force applies CDL RDT&E Military Intelligence Program (MIP) funds, using cross-Service teams, ensuring compliance with DoW waveform mandates. The CDL EA develops, modifies, distributes, and maintains specifications for the CDL waveform family; ensuring design configuration control, commonality, and interoperability among ISR platforms. The CDL EA also funds and supports cross-Service teams that manage development, maturation, and migration of CDL technologies. CDL EA enables compliance with OSW mandates to effectively utilize spectrum, use approved cryptographic equipment, and provide direct support to current operations. CDL is a vital link in DoW's existing and emerging communication architectures, providing flexibility to accommodate Command and Control (C2) data and myriad types of Signals Intelligence (SIGINT), Geospatial Intelligence (GEOINT), and Full-Motion Video (FMV) data. The CDL specifications enable interoperable operations of current and future ISR assets worldwide by providing sensor data directly via point-to-point and networked air-to-air or compatible satellite broadcast links to ground sites, surface ships, airborne platforms, and dismounted users, supporting Combined Joint All-Domain Command and Control (CJADC2) warfare. The CDL EA effort advances top-line CDL capabilities while maintaining compatibility with fielded U.S. and Allied terminals CDL EA's research and development activities support a broad array of tactical (including tactical data links (TDL) and high capacity backbone (HCB)), operational, and strategic ISR users. High priority investment activities support and include: achieving higher data rates, open architecture development, multi-access and multi-node network management, cryptographic modernization, advancements needed to operate in contested environments, terminal design enhancements, and operations in other spectral bands for spectrum efficiency.

**Named R-3 performers** (share of this project's FY2027 R-3 total, so they need not reach 100%)**:** NSA (4.5, 17%), Booz Allen (0.2, 0.8%).

| Activity (R-2A) | FY2025 | FY2026 | FY2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Common Data Link (CDL) Technology Advancement | 15.6 | 14.2 | 10.2 |
| Common Data Link (CDL) Specification Development, Validation, Test and Maintenance | 11.0 | 12.9 | 11.7 |
| Common Data Link (CDL) Cryptographic Modernization | 6.8 | 5.4 | 4.5 |

> 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 | 18% | 4.7 |
| Government labs & warfare centers | 54% | 14.3 |
| Other / unspecified | 28% | 7.5 |

**Top named industry performers:** NSA ($4.5M, 17%).

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

## Mission & acquisition strategy

Common Data Link Executive Agent (CDL EA) provides the DoW standard for interoperable, multi-service, multi-agency, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) datalinks for 15,000 DoW manned/unmanned airborne and ground terminals. The project advances CDL through partnership with each of the Services, NSA, JITC, FFRDCs, and Industry. As the DoW CDL EA, the Air Force applies CDL RDT&E Military Intelligence Program (MIP) funds, using cross-Service teams, ensuring compliance with DoW waveform mandates.

The Air Force serves as the DoD Common Data Link Executive Agent, with support from each Service's designated CDL lead and AFLCMC/HNA (Airborne Network Division). The CDL EA develops interoperable ISR data links mandated for use by DoW CIO policy. Once CDL technology development matures and a specification is published, services are responsible for CDL compliant platform and terminal procurement; National Security Agency (NSA) and Joint Interoperability Test Command (JITC) ensure compliance certifications; integration; and installation. Acquisition strategy varies by Service and contract. Whenever possible, contracts are awarded under full and open competition.

## Related program elements

- [0605035A — Common Infrared Countermeasures (CIRCM)](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0605035A) (Army)
- [0604706F — Life Support Systems](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0604706F) (Air Force)
- [1206431SF — MILSATCOM Space Modernization Initiative (SMI)](https://hitchintel.com/programs/1206431SF) (Space Force)
- [0303008F — Saturn](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0303008F) (Air Force)

## Source & machine access

- **Source:** FY2027 Department of the Air Force RDT&E Budget Justification, Exhibits R-2/R-3, PE 0305236F (PB PB2027); FY2027 NDAA committee marks (as of 2026-07-27).
- **MCP:** `mcp.hitchintel.com` — `budget_get_program_element(pe="0305236F")`.

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