# C-130J Program — Program Element 0401132F

**Program element:** 0401132F  
**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/0401132F

## Summary

U.S. Air Force requests $16.6M in FY2027. In the FY2027 defense authorization, the House funded it in full; the Senate added 42% (to $23.6M); House appropriators funded it in full. Lockheed Martin leads the industry work.

## Funding profile

| Fiscal Year | Estimate Type | Amount ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | Actual | 34.3 |
| FY2026 | Enacted | 18.7 |
| FY2027 | Request | 16.6 |
| FY2028 | Outyear | 12.0 |
| FY2029 | Outyear | 12.2 |
| FY2030 | Outyear | 12.5 |
| FY2031 | Outyear | 12.7 |

> 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 | 16.6 | — |
| House NDAA (HASC) | 16.6 | +0.0 |
| Senate NDAA (SASC) | 23.6 | +7.0 |
| House Approps (HAC-D) | 16.6 | +0.0 |

> FY2027 NDAA authorization marks, as of 2026-07-27. Not appropriations or final law.

## Projects (2)

| Project | Title | FY2025 actual | FY2026 enacted | FY2027 request | Move |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 675061 | C-130J | 24.3 | 3.8 | 9.9 | +161% |
| 675305 | C-130J Prog | 10.0 | 14.9 | 6.8 | −55% |

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

### Project 675061 — C-130J

The C-130J is a medium-sized transport aircraft capable of performing a variety of combat delivery (tactical airlift) operations across a broad range of mission environments. The C-130J aircraft, with its extended (by 15 feet) fuselage, provides additional cargo carrying capacity for the USAF combat delivery mission compared with legacy C-130E/H and the C-130J (short). Special mission variants of the C-130J conduct weather reconnaissance (WC-130J), search and rescue (HC-130J), and special operations (MC-130J and AC-130J). All aircraft variants must be capable of worldwide operations. This project also provides RDT&E funding and outlined in a cost share agreement for required capabilities that are grouped as "Block" upgrades or "Capability" or "Enhancement and Deficiencies" (EnD) updates. Content/requirements for these efforts is documented in International Program Directives (IPDs) as determined through the Cooperative Systems and Software Upgrade Requirements Management (COSSURM) process or other approved C-130J Joint User Group (JUG) processes. Activities required to complete development and integration of the common-core capabilities for all United States' variants are included in this project. In addition, this project includes early acquisition and engineering studies and initiatives related to the C-130J such as, but not limited to, capability gap resolution, emerging technology assessments, exploration and adaptation, systems integration assessments and technology transition; to include digital transformation. This project also provides RDT&E funding for requirements that are outside of the "Block" upgrades, "Capability" updates, "Enhancement and Deficiencies" (EnD) updates, or COSSURM process. These efforts may include, but are not limited to, communication, data link, Global Positioning Systems (GPS), electronic warfare, formation flight system, digital pathfinder initiatives and mission support system updates. The requirements are identified and concurred between the C-130J Program Office and Air Mobility Command (AMC). Requirements are documented through the C-130J Program Office approval process. This project provides RDT&E funding for studies and risk reduction activities and Program Support Costs (PSC).

**Named R-3 performers** (share of this project's FY2027 R-3 total, so they need not reach 100%)**:** Lockheed Martin (7.7, 79%).

| Activity (R-2A) | FY2025 | FY2026 | FY2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Test & Evaluation | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Enhancement & Deficiencies (EnD) | 15.9 | 1.1 | 6.6 |
| Cooperative Systems and Software Upgrade Requirements Management (COSSURM) | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 |
| Other Inititatives | 5.2 | 0.9 | 0.9 |
| C-130J/International Programs Office (IPO) Support | 1.0 | 1.6 | 2.3 |

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

### Project 675305 — C-130J Prog

The C-130J program funds Communication Modernization (phase 1 and phase 2) which meets Crypto Mandate 1. Comm Mod phase 1 and phase 2 efforts include but not limited to the development and integration of the new radio communication and defensive systems, Mobile User Objective System (MUOS), Second-generation Anti-jam Tactical UHF Radio for NATO (SATURN), Joint Range Extension Application Protocols (JREAP) to modernize Military Satellite Communication System (MILSATCOM), JREAP Connectivity via Commercial Pathway, Ultra High Frequency (UHF) and Super High Frequency (SHF) modernization including Hybrid SATCOM/Global Lighting or similar technologies, High Frequency (HF) Radio Modernization, special mission processing, and data link messaging. These systems will provide secure, global Line of Sight (LOS) and Beyond Line of Sight (BLOS) satellite voice and data connectivity utilizing modern satellite constellations and waveforms. These systems will also be integrated into other C-130J capabilities, such as Radio Frequency (RF) components including ALR-69A and DRFM (Digital Radio Frequency Memory Countermeasure). This requirement supports performance of a full financial audit as required by title 10 U.S.C. Chapter 9A, Sec 240-D. This program element included all necessary expenses required to manage, execute, and deliver weapon system capability. The use of such program funds would be in addition to the civilian pay expenses budgeted in program elements 0605829F, 0605831F, 0605833F, and 0605898F.

**Named R-3 performers** (share of this project's FY2027 R-3 total, so they need not reach 100%)**:** Lockheed Martin (5.3, 78%).

| Activity (R-2A) | FY2025 | FY2026 | FY2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Communication Modernization | 10.0 | 14.9 | 6.8 |

> 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 | 79% | 13.1 |
| Other / unspecified | 22% | 3.6 |

**Top named industry performers:** Lockheed Martin ($13.1M, 79%).

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

## Mission & acquisition strategy

The C-130J is a medium-sized transport aircraft capable of performing a variety of combat delivery (tactical airlift) operations across a broad range of mission environments. The C-130J aircraft, with its extended (by 15 feet) fuselage, provides additional cargo carrying capacity for the USAF combat delivery mission compared with legacy C-130E/H and the C-130J (short). Special mission variants of the C-130J conduct weather reconnaissance (WC-130J), search and rescue (HC-130J), and special operations (MC-130J and AC-130J). All aircraft variants must be capable of worldwide operations.

The C-130J aircraft will be modified using a "block upgrade" strategy. The Communication, Navigation, and Surveillance and Air Traffic Management (CNS/ATM), navigation safety requirement initially met in three block upgrades (Block 6.0, Block 7.0 and Block 8.1). In order to better manage the fleet, the USAF combined the Block 7 and Block 8.1 mods. This allows aircraft and trainers to be modified one time. Subsequently, C-130J modifications will be grouped into smaller updates known as Capability Management Updates (CMU) or Enhancement and Deficiencies (EnD). Other AMC initiatives are upgrades to hardware and software that have arisen after the formation of the block upgrades and CMUs.

## Related program elements

- [0305207F — RC-135 Systems](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0305207F) (Air Force)
- [1203164SF — Military Global Positioning System USER EQUIP](https://hitchintel.com/programs/1203164SF) (Space Force)
- [0401130F — C-17A Aircraft](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0401130F) (Air Force)
- [0604112N — Gerald R FORD CI NUC Aircraft Carrier CVN 78-80](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0604112N) (Navy)

## Source & machine access

- **Source:** FY2027 Department of the Air Force RDT&E Budget Justification, Exhibits R-2/R-3, PE 0401132F (PB PB2027); FY2027 NDAA committee marks (as of 2026-07-27).
- **MCP:** `mcp.hitchintel.com` — `budget_get_program_element(pe="0401132F")`.

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