# Leveraging International S&T for DAF Advantage

**R-2A activity** of project 613004 — Science Alliances and Talent Development for DAF Superiority  
**Program element:** 0601102F — Defense Research Sciences  
**Component:** U.S. Air Force · **Budget Activity:** 1  
**Vintage:** President's Budget PB2027  
**Canonical URL:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/0601102F/613004/a0  
**Parent:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/0601102F/613004

## Summary

This activity requests $14.6M in FY2027, 54% of project 613004, down 5.0% 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.** - Continue funding disruptive basic research opportunities at international universities and organizations discovered by engaging with and leveraging the worldwide research community. - Continue to explore foreign investments and influence premier scientific leaders on specific topics of interest to the Department of the Air Force. - Continue to pursue access to and enable transition of fundamental scientific discoveries relevant to the Department of the Air Force that are not being addressed in U.S. universities. - Continue to support international engagements by scientists and high-level DoW fundamental science delegations, providing primary interface to coordinate international science and technology participation among DoW organizations.

**FY2026 to FY2027 change.** FY 2027 decreased compared to FY 2026 by $0.767 million due to minor programmatic adjustments to the DAF Science and Technology portfolio.

## Before the request year

**FY2026 plans — current year.** - Fund disruptive basic research opportunities at international universities and organizations discovered by engaging with and leveraging the worldwide research community. - Explore foreign investments and influence premier scientific leaders on specific topics of interest to the Department of the Air Force. - Pursue access to and enable transition of fundamental scientific discoveries relevant to the Department of the Air Force that are not being addressed in U.S. universities. - Support international engagements by scientists and high-level Department of War (DoW) fundamental science delegations, providing primary interface to coordinate international science and technology participation among DoW organizations.

## Funding

| Fiscal Year | Estimate Type | Amount ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | Actual | 15.3 |
| FY2026 | Enacted | 15.4 |
| FY2027 | Request | 14.6 |

> 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 613004

- [Building the Pipeline of DAF Science and Technology (S&T) Talent](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0601102F/613004/a1) — FY2027 12.3

## Source & machine access

- **Source:** FY2027 Department of the Air Force RDT&E Budget Justification, Exhibit R-2A, PE 0601102F project 613004 (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.*