# Aerospace Systems Technologies — Program Element 0602203F

**Program element:** 0602203F  
**Component:** U.S. Air Force  
**Appropriation:** 3600 — RDT&E, Air Force  
**Budget Activity:** 2 — Applied Research  
**Vintage:** President's Budget PB2027  
**Canonical URL:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/0602203F

## Summary

U.S. Air Force requests $397.8M in FY2027, sustained across the five-year plan. In the FY2027 defense authorization, the House added 1.3% (to $402.8M); the Senate added 5.0% (to $417.8M); House appropriators added 14% (to $452.8M).

## Funding profile

| Fiscal Year | Estimate Type | Amount ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | Actual | 330.1 |
| FY2026 | Enacted | 381.1 |
| FY2027 | Request | 397.8 |
| FY2028 | Outyear | 380.3 |
| FY2029 | Outyear | 434.3 |
| FY2030 | Outyear | 437.7 |
| FY2031 | Outyear | 444.9 |

> 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 | 397.8 | — |
| House NDAA (HASC) | 402.8 | +5.0 |
| Senate NDAA (SASC) | 417.8 | +20.0 |
| House Approps (HAC-D) | 452.8 | +55.0 |

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

## Projects (8)

| Project | Title | FY2025 actual | FY2026 enacted | FY2027 request | Move |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 622405 | High Speed Systems Technology | 41.1 | 87.3 | 157.0 | +80% |
| 623066 | Turbine Engine Technology | 70.9 | 81.3 | 83.3 | +3% |
| 622403 | Flight Controls and Pilot-Vehicle Interface | 42.7 | 75.5 | 67.4 | −11% |
| 622401 | Structures | 72.9 | 94.4 | 55.2 | −42% |
| 625171 | Missile Rocket Propulsion | 36.9 | 34.2 | 34.9 | +2% |
| 623012 | Advanced Propulsion Technology | 21.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — |
| 623145 | Aerospace Power Technology | 38.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — |
| 625330 | Aerospace Fuel Technology | 5.4 | 8.5 | 0.0 | −100% |

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

### Project 622405 — High Speed Systems Technology

This project investigates, analyzes, and develops applied technologies that enable future multi-Mach, responsive high-speed/hypersonic weapons and platforms (vehicles) via modeling, simulation and analysis (MS&A), and ground and flight tests. The extreme conditions high-speed/hypersonic weapons and platforms are subjected to manifest as complex multi-disciplinary technical challenges, namely: structure/system durability, broad operability from Mach 0 to Mach 5+ (multi-Mach operability), vehicle-level integrated power and thermal management, and integration of mission systems. The development of technical solutions to these multi-disciplinary challenges at the subsystem level, and the subsequent integration of them at the system level, is critical to reduce the risk and time required to transition technologies into operational systems. Digital material management, and validation via ground test capability are utilized to develop and deliver an integrated digital environment (IDE) to assess technology, evaluate its impacts, and make capability-focused investment decisions. Aerospace Systems Technologies, received a Congressional add for FY2026 $2.500 million for Hypersonic high-speed aerodynamics research. Upon Congressional spend plan approval, an Internal Reprogramming (IR) will be processed aligning the funding to PE0601102F for proper execution.

| Activity (R-2A) | FY2025 | FY2026 | FY2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| High-Speed Systems Technology Development | 23.9 | 22.4 | 66.1 |
| High Speed Vehicle Aeromechanics Technology Development | 17.3 | 15.4 | 0.0 |
| High Speed Propulsion Technology Development | 0.0 | 17.0 | 90.9 |

> 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 623066 — Turbine Engine Technology

This project develops air breathing engine technology to address military specific needs for manned systems, autonomous vehicles, and munition applications. Technology development includes Mission Optimized Air Breathing Propulsion Technology Development and Revolutionary Propulsion Technology Development by utilizing military utility and physics-based analysis.

| Activity (R-2A) | FY2025 | FY2026 | FY2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mission Optimized Air Breathing Propulsion Technology Development | 0.0 | 41.5 | 41.5 |
| Revolutionary Propulsion Technology Development | 18.6 | 29.7 | 33.3 |
| Aerospace Fuel Technology Development | 0.0 | 0.0 | 8.5 |
| Turbine Engine Components | 26.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Turboshaft/Turboprop and Turbofan Engine Technologies | 0.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Engine Technologies for Autonomous Vehicles and Munitions | 15.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Combustion Technologies | 2.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Diagnostic Technologies | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Bearing Technologies | 3.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Lubricant Technologies | 4.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 |

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

### Project 622403 — Flight Controls and Pilot-Vehicle Interface

This project is dedicated to advancing technologies for manned, remotely piloted, and autonomous aerospace vehicles, with a focus on achieving maximum performance and affordability. The development of advanced control, automation, and autonomy technologies is a key aspect, aiming to deliver safe and efficient vehicle operation and mission execution through the use of digital engineering, flight experimentation, and evaluation. These efforts contribute significantly to the development of reliable autonomous collaborative platforms, high-speed aircraft, and operational aircraft. Furthermore, the project encompasses the design of integrated electrical and thermal management components, controls, and systems for military aerospace applications, ensuring that the power and thermal needs of future aerospace capabilities can be met. By developing controls and system integration technologies, the project also ensures the interoperability of aircraft, power, thermal, engine, and other systems and subsystems, ultimately supporting the development of electrical power and thermal management components, controls, and systems suitable for various aircraft platforms, including autonomous collaborative platforms and future aircraft, while addressing reliability, maintainability, affordability, and supportability. In FY 2026 within PE 0602203F / Aerospace Systems Technologies all efforts and activities previously reported in project 623145 / Aerospace Power Technology were transferred to this project to enable acceleration of integrated system capabilities and capture realistic representation of work.

| Activity (R-2A) | FY2025 | FY2026 | FY2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Autonomy Technology Development | 0.0 | 32.0 | 32.0 |
| Advanced Flight Controls Technologies | 10.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Manned and Unmanned Teaming Technologies | 24.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Strategic Analysis Technology Development | 8.0 | 9.1 | 9.1 |
| Power and Thermal Systems Technology Development | 0.0 | 34.5 | 26.4 |

> 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 622401 — Structures

This project performs technology development to advance aerodynamic and structural systems of the aerospace vehicle to address Department of the Air Force capability needs and anticipated future capability needs. Requisite technology area competencies in design, analysis, synthesis, and validation, work in synergy with design integration of other aerospace vehicle systems to define and provide technology gap solutions.

| Activity (R-2A) | FY2025 | FY2026 | FY2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mission Optimized Aerospace Vehicles Technology Development | 0.0 | 39.9 | 29.5 |
| Rapid Aerospace Vehicles Design and Integration Technology Development | 0.0 | 34.5 | 25.7 |
| Vehicle Design Technologies | 14.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Structural Concepts | 20.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Next Generation Aerodynamic Technologies | 6.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Aircraft Integration Technologies | 13.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Aerodynamic Systems Technology | 8.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 |

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

### Project 625171 — Missile Rocket Propulsion

This project develops rocket propulsion technologies for the design, development, and fabrication of strategic systems (including solid boost/missile motors, post boost control, aging and surveillance efforts), and tactical missiles. Analytical and experimental areas of emphasis are propellants, propellant management, combustion, rocket material applications, model-based system engineering, digital design of manufacture and test, test stand live-fire testing, and technology for sustainment of strategic systems. This project develops the next generation of physics-based Modeling, Simulation, and Analysis (MS&A) tools for rapid and agile missile propulsion design, analysis, and production, as well as the digital engineering concepts to manage the entire process of design, test, and validation of solid rocket motors through live-fire tests. All efforts in this project contribute to the sustainment of the rocket propulsion industry, providing rocket propulsion technology for the entire DoD. All efforts are reviewed by a DoD level steering committee yearly for relevance to DoD missions.

| Activity (R-2A) | FY2025 | FY2026 | FY2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Missile Propulsion Technology Development | 0.0 | 34.2 | 34.9 |
| Missile Propellant Research | 10.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Ballistic and Tactical Propulsion Technologies | 26.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 |

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

### Project 623012 — Advanced Propulsion Technology

This project develops combined/advanced cycle air breathing high-speed and hypersonic propulsion technologies to provide revolutionary propulsion options for the Air Force. These new engine technologies will enable future high-speed/hypersonic weapons and aircraft concepts. The primary focus is on hydrocarbon-fueled engines capable of operating over a broad range of flight Mach numbers. Efforts include modeling, simulations, and proof of concept demonstrations of critical components; advanced component development; and ground-based demonstrations. FY 2026, within Program Element 0602203F/ Aerospace Systems Technologies, all efforts and activities previously reported and funded in this Project 623012/ Advanced Propulsion Technology were transferred to Project 622405/ High Speed Systems Technology enable acceleration of integrated system capabilities and capture realistic representation of work.

| Activity (R-2A) | FY2025 | FY2026 | FY2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hypersonic Scramjet Technologies | 18.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 |

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

### Project 623145 — Aerospace Power Technology

This project develops integrated electrical and thermal management components, controls and systems for military aerospace applications. Power component technologies are developed to increase reliability, maintainability, commonality, affordability, and supportability of aircraft and flight line equipment. Research is conducted in energy storage and hybrid power system technologies to enable special purpose applications. Electrical power and thermal management technologies enable future military power and thermal needs. Controls and system integration technologies ensure the interoperability of aircraft, power, thermal, engine and other systems and subsystems. This project supports development of electrical power and thermal management components, controls and systems suitable for applications to legacy and future aircraft platforms including strike and mobility concepts. Lightweight power systems suitable for other aerospace applications are also developed. In FY 2026, within Program Element 0602203F/ Aerospace Systems Technologies, all efforts and activities previously reported and funded in this project 623145 Aerospace Power Technology were transferred to Project 622403 Aerospace Power & Flight Control Technology project to enable acceleration of integrated system capabilities and capture realistic representation of work.

| Activity (R-2A) | FY2025 | FY2026 | FY2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| High Power Systems Technology | 38.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 |

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

### Project 625330 — Aerospace Fuel Technology

This project evaluates fuels for advanced turbine engines, scramjets, detonation, and combined cycle engines. This project also considers fuel related concepts that can increase turbine engine operational reliability, durability, mission flexibility, energy efficiency, and performance while reducing weight, fuel consumption, and cost of ownership. Applications include autonomous collaborative platforms, munitions, and high-speed systems (to include hypersonics). Research areas of emphasis include evaluations of fuel properties and characteristics of traditional, specialty, and alternative fuels developed from unconventional sources.

| Activity (R-2A) | FY2025 | FY2026 | FY2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aerospace Fuel Technology Development | 0.0 | 8.5 | 0.0 |
| Alternative Fuels | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Integrated Thermal and Energy Management | 3.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Fuel Logistics and Sustainment | 1.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Combustion Emissions and Performance | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 |

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

## Mission & acquisition strategy

In FY 2026, the RDT&E Budget Activity 02 (BA02) 0602203F Aerospace Propulsion program is renamed Aerospace Systems Technologies program. Aerospace Systems Technologies program includes Applied Research funds for contracts, in-house efforts, civilian pay, travel, and infrastructure support costs for the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Aerospace Systems Directorate (RQ) located at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, Edwards AFB, CA, and Arnold AFB, TN. Aerospace Systems investigates, develops, and analyzes aerospace system technologies for military applications that remove operational limitations while advancing warfighter capabilities critical to the future threat.

## Related program elements

- [0603288D8Z — Science and Technology (S&T) Analytic Assessments](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0603288D8Z) (Defense-Wide)
- [0207431F — Combat Air Intelligence System Activities](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0207431F) (Air Force)
- [0207133F — F-16 Squadrons](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0207133F) (Air Force)
- [0603782N — Mine and Expeditionary Warfare Advanced Technology](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0603782N) (Navy)

## Source & machine access

- **Source:** FY2027 Department of the Air Force RDT&E Budget Justification, Exhibits R-2/R-3, PE 0602203F (PB PB2027); FY2027 NDAA committee marks (as of 2026-07-27).
- **MCP:** `mcp.hitchintel.com` — `budget_get_program_element(pe="0602203F")`.

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