# Product Development

**R-2A activity** of project 2939 — RQ-4 Modernization  
**Program element:** 0305421N — RQ-4 Modernization  
**Component:** U.S. Navy · **Budget Activity:** 7  
**Vintage:** President's Budget PB2027  
**Canonical URL:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/0305421N/2939/a0  
**Parent:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/0305421N/2939

## Summary

This activity requests $295.1M in FY2027, 91% of project 2939, down 8.4% on FY2026. The R-2A exhibit describes it across FY2026–FY2027, including what the FY2027 money is planned to buy.

## What the FY2027 request buys

**FY2027 planned work.** FY27 continues to develop Increment 2 to incrementally incorporate software and hardware capability improvements, building on the Increment 1 baseline to ensure ongoing relevance of the MQ-4C capability. Increment 2 development includes efforts to provide advanced radar modes inclusive of GMTI, development of a high data rate (HDR) beyond-line-of-sight (BLOS) capability to support EO/IR sensor upgrade, EO/IR detection in support of GEOINT for increased maritime domain awareness, Integration of HGA for improved SIGINT, communications and networks resiliency in denied environments, implementation of multi-UA C2, and implementation of SAA traffic and weather capability for increased mission availability and airspace integration, as well as addressing required DMS, cyber security updates and training requirements.

**FY2026 to FY2027 change.** Product development efforts continue in FY27 and while the program received an increase in funding to maintain Increment 2 development efforts, the overall funding levels decreased from FY26 as Increment 2 systems design and development efforts mature and near completion.

## Before the request year

**FY2026 plans — current year.** FY26 continues to develop Increment 2 to incrementally incorporate software and hardware capability improvements, building on the Increment 1 baseline to ensure ongoing relevance of the MQ-4C capability. Increment 2 development includes efforts to provide advanced radar modes inclusive of GMTI, EO/IR detection in support of GEOINT for increased maritime domain awareness, Integration of HGA for improved SIGINT, communications and networks resiliency in denied environments, implementation of multi-UA C2, and implementation of SAA traffic and weather capability for increased mission availability and airspace integration, as well as addressing required DMS, cyber security updates and training requirements.

## Funding

| Fiscal Year | Estimate Type | Amount ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | Actual | 398.8 |
| FY2026 | Enacted | 322.1 |
| FY2027 | Request | 295.1 |

> Prior, current and budget year only — an R-2A activity carries no five-year plan. It sums exactly into its project in the request year and not necessarily in any other.

## Other activities in project 2939

- [Test & Evaluation (T&E)](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0305421N/2939/a2) — FY2027 22.0
- ILS, Support, Studies & Analysis — FY2027 5.9
- Program Management (PM) — FY2027 2.0

## Source & machine access

- **Source:** FY2027 Department of the Navy RDT&E Budget Justification, Exhibit R-2A, PE 0305421N project 2939 (PB PB2027). Narrative is the government's own text.
- **No marks, no contractors at this grain** — congressional marks land on the program element and R-3 performers on the project.
- **MCP:** `mcp.hitchintel.com` — `budget_get_activity`.

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