# Nuclear Re-entry Systems S&T

**R-2A activity** of project 623360 — Technology Exploration  
**Program element:** 0602336F — Technology Exploration  
**Component:** U.S. Air Force · **Budget Activity:** 2  
**Vintage:** President's Budget PB2027  
**Canonical URL:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/0602336F/623360/a1  
**Parent:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/0602336F

> **NEW START.** $22.0M requested in FY2027 with no prior-year and no current-year funding.

## Summary

This activity requests $22.0M in FY2027, 81% of project 623360 — a new start with no prior-year and no current-year money. 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 developing foundational nuclear re-entry system Modeling & Simulation (M&S) tools that support advanced Aeroshell efforts within PE 0603273F, S&T for Nuclear Re-entry Systems. - Continue aerothermal model validation and improvements to include the development of integrated, comprehensive physics-based modeling suites to predict aerodynamic flow fields, signatures, and material characterizations. - Continue enhancing plasma chemistry modeling fidelity through machine learning models and computational chemistry. - Continue developing computational tools for predicting physics-based effects that result in leading-edge shape change of hypersonic vehicles. - Continue weather effects computational tests on nuclear re-entry vehicles and catalogue validating data for M&S tools. - Continue generating new algorithms for predicting nuclear re-entry vehicle responses to extreme or inclement weather in lower atmosphere environments. - Continue analyzing strategic command, control, and communications to identify critical multi-domain technologies. - Continue developing M&S algorithms to inform and support test and integration plans for hypersonic re-entry flight tests containing government payloads. - Continue developing M&S algorithms to inform the selection of hypersonic payload technologies (e.g., inertial sensors, millimeter-wave communications, spectral and hyperspectral sensors, and heatshield materials) for technology maturation opportunities in future flight tests. - Continue validating computational results of hypersonic aerothermal chemistry and shock-layer behavior with experimental re-entry flight test data. - Commence select terminal performance studies and early technology development through fundamental and applied research to advance PE 0603273F, Science and Technology (S&T) for Nuclear Re-entry Systems enhanced terminal performance activities. - Commence the development of experimental impact fuze technologies to ensure proper system execution for varying and unique scenario target impacts as well as identifying early integration opportunities. - Commence the procurement of material samples and supporting laboratory experimentation to systematically supplement existing nuclear re-entry system materials databases for enhanced terminal performance. - Commence investigations into sourcing options for outer aeroshell materials and future Government Reference Design (GRD) components. - Commence computational material requirement studies to predict combined environment effects. - Commence investigation of environmental effects test campaign to evaluate materials performance in relevant combined environments. - Commence designing experiments for radiation effects across critical nuclear re-entry system components.

**FY2026 to FY2027 change.** This effort increases by $22.011 million from FY 2026 to FY 2027 to expand and accelerate applied research activities aiding and informing developmental efforts performed within PE 0603273F, S&T for Nuclear Re-entry Systems. This growth in budget will ensure S&T for Nuclear Re-entry Systems remains on schedule with the joint Department of the Air Force (DAF) and U.S. Navy 25-year roadmap established in accordance with strategic guidance provided by the Office of the Undersecretary of War (OUSW) for Research and Engineering (R&E) in FY 2023. The funding will support studies and early development of Aeroshell material options for future re-entry vehicles; evaluation of materials performance in relevant environments; and the initiation of terminal performance studies informing future re-entry vehicle design.

## Before the request year

**FY2026 plans — current year.** FY 2026 RAS plans were previously accounted for within the Nuclear Technologies effort of this PE encompassing work in aerothermodynamic analyses of re-entry systems.

## Funding

| Fiscal Year | Estimate Type | Amount ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| FY2026 | Enacted | 0.0 |
| FY2027 | Request | 22.0 |

> 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 623360

- Nuclear Technologies — FY2027 5.0

## Source & machine access

- **Source:** FY2027 Department of the Air Force RDT&E Budget Justification, Exhibit R-2A, PE 0602336F project 623360 (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.*