# Building the Pipeline of DAF Science and Technology (S&T) Talent

**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/a1  
**Parent:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/0601102F/613004

## Summary

This activity requests $12.3M in FY2027, 46% of project 613004, up 29% 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 identifying, recruiting, and increasing opportunities for new investigators to participate in critical Department of the Air Force research. - Continue to support basic science, mathematics, and engineering research efforts to include funding in microelectronics, materials, energy, aerospace, quantum science, and other fields of importance to the Department of the Air Force with HBCU, Hispanic-Serving Institutions, and other institutions.

**FY2026 to FY2027 change.** FY 2027 increased compared to FY 2026 by $2.795 million due to increased emphasis in research at the United States Air Force Academy.

## Before the request year

**FY2026 plans — current year.** - Identify, recruit, and increase opportunities for new investigators to participate in critical Department of the Air Force research. - Support basic science, mathematics, and engineering research efforts to include funding in microelectronics, materials, energy, aerospace, quantum science, and other fields of importance to the Department of the Air Force with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU), Hispanic-Serving Institutions, and other institutions.

## Funding

| Fiscal Year | Estimate Type | Amount ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | Actual | 15.5 |
| FY2026 | Enacted | 9.5 |
| FY2027 | Request | 12.3 |

> 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

- [Leveraging International S&T for DAF Advantage](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0601102F/613004/a0) — FY2027 14.6

## 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.*