# Photonics Technology Development

**R-2A activity** of project 622002 — Electronic Component Technology  
**Program element:** 0602204F — Aerospace Sensors  
**Component:** U.S. Air Force · **Budget Activity:** 2  
**Vintage:** President's Budget PB2027  
**Canonical URL:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/0602204F/622002/a2  
**Parent:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/0602204F/622002

## Summary

This activity requests $15.6M in FY2027, 37% of project 622002, down 15% 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 research into non-linear devices for tunablity and power scaling relevant to infrared countermeasure development. - Continue development of high power, narrow line width laser sources for advanced sensing and countermeasure applications. - Continue laser component packaging for laser detection and ranging. - Continue development of chip-scale photonic/electronic wideband transceiver components for electronic warfare technology development. - Complete photonic and quantum substructure technology development for quantum communications and remote sensing applications. - Commence development of low-cost, wafer-scale integrated electro-optic and infrared components, focusing on shortwave and midwave applications.

**FY2026 to FY2027 change.** FY 2027 decreased compared to FY 2026 by $2.739 million due to a reduction in the development of low cost and weight electro-optical infrared photonic sensors. This reduction is the result of a strategic realignment of the Department of the Air Force's Science and Technology (DAF S&T) portfolio, which aims to optimize core research areas and improve resource efficiency.

## Before the request year

**FY2026 plans — current year.** - Continue photonic and quantum substructure technology development for quantum communications and remote sensing applications - Continue research into non-linear devices for tunablity and power scaling relevant to infrared countermeasure development. - Continue development of high power, narrow line width lasers sources for advanced sensing and countermeasure applications. - Continue laser component packaging for laser detection and ranging. - Continue development of chip-scale photonic/electronic wideband transceiver components for electronic warfare technology development. - Continue resilient and assured optoelectronic/infrared and photonic analysis. - Commence low-cost wafer-scale approaches for infrared detection and emission.

## Funding

| Fiscal Year | Estimate Type | Amount ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | Actual | 9.0 |
| FY2026 | Enacted | 18.4 |
| FY2027 | Request | 15.6 |

> 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 622002

- [Microelectronics Technology Development](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0602204F/622002/a1) — FY2027 26.2
- Sensor Subsystems — FY2027 0.0
- Trusted and Assured Electronics — FY2027 0.0
- Advanced Highly Integrated Microsystems for Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance and Electronic Warfare — FY2027 0.0

## Source & machine access

- **Source:** FY2027 Department of the Air Force RDT&E Budget Justification, Exhibit R-2A, PE 0602204F project 622002 (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.*