What project 621123 buys
This project conducts research focused on enhancing warfighter readiness through the development of an advanced, extensible, multi-domain test and training ecosystem, implementing advanced modeling and simulation architectures and data management structures to support at-scale JAD operational training exercises. Two major thrust areas are: 1) Learning and Operational Training, focused on the development of theoretically-grounded training tools and technologies to improve knowledge and skill acquisition and retention, employing models that describe how humans learn and perform, and exploiting the synergy of joint Human-AI teams for real-time learning during operations, and 2) Digital Models of Cognition, focused on the development of scalable, high-fidelity models of human perception and cognition to predict human decision-making under operational stressors; these human information processing models are integrated into realistic mission simulation environments. Work in this project supports missions across the USAF and USSF, including pilot training in Air Education and Training, Air Combat, and Air Mobility Commands, prediction, assessment, and mitigation of cognitive workload in complex, max endurance operations, and broad support for battle management, information warfare, agile combat operations, and wargaming.
Project 621123 funding, FY2025–FY2031
Prior years are actuals, the budget year is the request, and the outyears are the FYDP plan. Estimate types are colored and never summed into one figure. Projects carry the full five-year plan; the activities inside them stop at the budget year.
| Fiscal Year | Estimate Type | Amount ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | Actual | 13.3 |
| FY2026 | Enacted | 33.2 |
| FY2027 | Request | 15.4 |
| FY2028 | Outyear | 15.9 |
| FY2029 | Outyear | 22.7 |
| FY2030 | Outyear | 25.3 |
| FY2031 | Outyear | 26.7 |
4 accomplishments / planned programs
The R-2A exhibit — the only level of the budget that describes work that has not happened yet. Activities carry the prior, current and budget year only, no five-year plan. Coverage is partial across the corpus, so count activities, never total them.
FY2027 planned work -Continue research on data tools and competency models by validating existing and novel pilot training models, addressing training requirements for crewed and uncrewed collaborative platforms. -Continue research on just-in-time training by analyzing primary and secondary Airmen/Guardian needs and incorporating the findings into a tutoring capability for multi-disciplinary teams. -Continue to advance the integrated human-AI learning ecosystem by validating machine-readable knowledge and intelligent tutors, applying hybrid cognitive-AI models to piloting domains across the entire training pipeline, from undergraduate to squadron-level communities. -Continue development of metrics for…
FY2026 to FY2027 change FY 2027 decreased compared to FY 2026 by $2.471 million, aligning with a reduced emphasis on learning needs as several multi-year research efforts reach their planned conclusion. Final reports will be completed on critical infrastructure requirements and the impact of training fidelity (e.g., XR, VR) in fighter domains.
FY2026 plans — current year -Continue exploration and assessment of infrastructure and fidelity requirements to support a peer fight, developing a requirements process for competency-based training environments to support data-driven performance assessment, readiness management, and instruction. -Continue research on applying learning theories for just-in-time training to accelerate acquisition of skill and knowledge to produce multi-capable Airmen/Guardians. -Continue research on human-AI interactive learning and co-learning mechanisms in laboratory settings. This includes generating machine-readable representations of warfighter knowledge for Air Battle Management and advancing simulation architectures to test AI…
FY2027 planned work -Continue the computational cognitive modeling for NGAD and CCA efforts by finalizing data analysis and comparing human performance data against ideal performer models for managing multiple collaborative assets. -Continue research on descriptive and anticipatory analytics by developing methods to combine publicly available information and intelligence products to identify opportunities for influence operations. -Continue development of the sensemaking tool suite by creating an information environment simulation to support DAF training courses and operational exercises. -Continue experimentation on the mechanisms of influence by collecting data to investigate factors affecting the will to…
FY2026 to FY2027 change FY 2027 decreased compared to FY 2026 by 3.286 million reflecting a reduced emphasis on digital modeling. This change aligns with the planned conclusion of major research efforts, including the transition of communication models to the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program.
FY2026 plans — current year -Continue computational cognitive modeling to enable quantitative understanding of mission effectiveness, generating data for pilots controlling crewed and uncrewed Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) within the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) family of systems. -Continue experimentation on digital models that account for internal and external factors that modulate cognitive performance, including fatigue, task load, and extended noise exposure, utilizing real-world measurements from F-35 and C-130 interiors. -Continue research to define descriptive and anticipatory analytics from network and content data to inform decision-making in cognitive warfare. This includes developing a…
FY2027 planned work Not Applicable
FY2026 to FY2027 change Not Applicable
FY2026 plans — current year In FY 2026, the activities and associated funding under the "Personalized Learning" effort transferred to the "Learning and Operational Training" effort to better integrate readiness into learning research.
FY2027 planned work Not Applicable
FY2026 to FY2027 change Not Applicable
FY2026 plans — current year In FY 2026, the activities and associated funding under the "Cognitive Modeling" effort transferred to the "Digital Models of Cognition" effort to better integrate digital modeling into the research.