# KC-135 Upgrades — Program Element 0401218F

**Program element:** 0401218F  
**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/0401218F

## Summary

U.S. Air Force requests $121.7M in FY2027 against nothing enacted in FY2026 — the program's peak, with nothing planned by FY2031. In the FY2027 defense authorization, the House added 16% (to $141.7M); the Senate added 5.7% (to $128.7M); House appropriators added 8.2% (to $131.7M). System Program Office leads the industry work.

## Funding profile

| Fiscal Year | Estimate Type | Amount ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | Actual | 9.7 |
| FY2026 | Enacted | 0.0 |
| FY2027 | Request | 121.7 |
| FY2028 | Outyear | 106.0 |
| FY2029 | Outyear | 87.8 |
| FY2030 | Outyear | 0.0 |
| FY2031 | Outyear | 0.0 |

> 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 | 121.7 | — |
| House NDAA (HASC) | 141.7 | +20.0 |
| Senate NDAA (SASC) | 128.7 | +7.0 |
| House Approps (HAC-D) | 131.7 | +10.0 |

> 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 675261 | KC-135 Upgrades | 9.7 | 0.0 | 121.7 | — |

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

### Project 675261 — KC-135 Upgrades

The KC-135 program supports global aerial refueling operations through 2050 and beyond. The KC-135 is the only fully operational tanker in the Air Force inventory and the oldest fleet by average age. In FY 2024, USAF C/KC-135s offloaded 70,727,162 gallons of fuel to refuel 36,515 aircraft in support of global operations. As a cargo aircraft, the C/KC-135 can carry six (6) standard 463-L pallets. RDT&E efforts include but are not limited to Mobile User Objective System, COMM2 Crypto & Data, High Frequency Modernization, and Center Console Refresh. Funding provides for C/KC-135 Operational System Development efforts include but not limited to Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) integration, Center Console Refresh (CCR), High Frequency (HF) Modernization, COMM2 Crypto and Data, Mobility Air Forces (MAF), Hybrid SATCOM, and support for demonstrations, operational assessments, exercises, test and evaluation, and airworthiness to quantify the effectiveness of temporary and permanent solutions. Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) integration and test for MUOS-capable radios on Block 45 aircraft in the COMM 3 position with Beyond Line-of-Sight (BLOS) Integrated Waveform (IW) and LOS SATURN capability with HAVE QUICK II backward compatibility. The C/KC-135 fleet must comply with the National Security Agency (NSA) mandate or will lose secure communications, which significantly degrades its ability to support worldwide operations. The ARC-210 Gen 3 radios have Diminishing Manufacturing Sources and Material Shortages (DMSMS) and will become obsolete on the Cryptographic Equipment Authorized for Secure Keying (CEASEKEY) date. Requirements include AMC's 10-050 Crypto, 15-046 MUOS, 16-053 SATURN, and 17-039 IW. This modification is part to the USAF Radio and Crypto Modernization Plan (RCMP) for crypto modernization as directed by CSAF in Nov 2022 and DoW Chief Information Officer (CIO) in 2016. Center Console Refresh (CCR) replaces the Flight Display System (FDS) and Fuel System (FS), and Flight Computer/Integrated Processing Center (IPC) that are facing parts obsolescence issues and will render the aircraft non mission capable. Additionally, the program includes the auto-throttles requirement. The Integrated Fuel Management Panel (IFMP) and Fuel Management Advisory Computer (FMAC) are no longer procurable with limited repair capability.

**Named R-3 performers** (share of this project's FY2027 R-3 total, so they need not reach 100%)**:** System Program Office (7.9, 6.5%).

| Activity (R-2A) | FY2025 | FY2026 | FY2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Very Low Frequency (VLF) Roll-on/Roll-off (RORO) | 0.0 | 0.0 | 11.7 |
| KC-135 MUOS radio | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Hybrid SATCOM | 0.0 | 0.0 | 47.6 |
| Color Weather Radar (CWR) | 0.0 | 0.0 | 27.7 |
| Development and Test Support | 0.6 | 0.0 | 12.8 |
| Center Console Refresh | 3.5 | 0.0 | 8.0 |
| COMM2 Crypto and Data Program | 5.6 | 0.0 | 2.0 |
| MAF Connectivity | 0.0 | 0.0 | 12.0 |

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

## Where the FY2027 request goes

| Category | Share | $M |
|---|---|---|
| Industry primes | 6.5% | 7.9 |
| Government labs & warfare centers | 1.6% | 2.0 |
| Other / unspecified | 92% | 111.8 |

**Top named industry performers:** System Program Office ($7.9M, 6.5%).

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

## Mission & acquisition strategy

The KC-135 program supports global aerial refueling operations through 2050 and beyond. The KC-135 is the only fully operational tanker in the Air Force inventory and the oldest fleet by average age. In FY 2024, USAF C/KC-135s offloaded 70,727,162 gallons of fuel to refuel 36,515 aircraft in support of global operations. As a cargo aircraft, the C/KC-135 can carry six (6) standard 463-L pallets. RDT&E efforts include but are not limited to Mobile User Objective System, COMM2 Crypto & Data, High Frequency Modernization, and Center Console Refresh.

C/KC-135 MUOS acquisition strategy addresses cryptographic modernization mandates and DoW directives by executing a 39-month Sole Source, Cost Plus Fixed Fee EMD contract followed by a three-year production and installation effort. Major Events/ Milestone: Prototype install on Aircraft Number 1 April 15th, 2025 - April 25th, 2025, Prototype install on Aircraft Number 2 April 26th, 2025 - May 3rd, 2025, Combined DT/OT Effort May 3rd, 2025 - October 19th, 2025, Black Label Release December 9, 2025, Milestone C April, 2026, Installation Q1 of FY 2027 - Q1 of FY 2030. Current as of 9 December 2025. Color Weather Radar - Acquisition Strategy is to award a 12-month EMD contract via competitive procedures under an OTA.

## Related program elements

- [0401130F — C-17A Aircraft](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0401130F) (Air Force)
- [0605278F — HC/MC-130 Recap RDT&E](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0605278F) (Air Force)
- [0604216N — Multi-Mission Helicopter Upgrade Dev](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0604216N) (Navy)
- [0604272N — Tact Air Dir Infrared CM (TADIRCM)](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0604272N) (Navy)

## Source & machine access

- **Source:** FY2027 Department of the Air Force RDT&E Budget Justification, Exhibits R-2/R-3, PE 0401218F (PB PB2027); FY2027 NDAA committee marks (as of 2026-07-27).
- **MCP:** `mcp.hitchintel.com` — `budget_get_program_element(pe="0401218F")`.

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