# Vanguard Prospect - CRONUS

**R-2A activity** of project 630320 — Air Force Vanguards  
**Program element:** 0603032F — Air Force Vanguards  
**Component:** U.S. Air Force · **Budget Activity:** 3  
**Vintage:** President's Budget PB2027  
**Canonical URL:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/0603032F/630320/a4  
**Parent:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/0603032F

## Summary

This activity requests $38.0M in FY2027, 13% of project 630320, down 3.0% 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 ARBM algorithm development, test, and evaluation based on the modeling and simulation operational utility analysis. Implement improvements to the algorithms required to improve system level performance. - Continue Model Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) development and collaboration with the program office to refine the system models and capture new aspects related to the CRONUS algorithm development. - Continue Hardware-In-the-Loop / Software-In-the-Loop (HIL/SIL) environment development and implementation. - Continue modeling and simulation operational utility analysis based on updates/ improvements of the Air Refueling Battle Management (ARBM) algorithms. - Continue modeling and simulation of Automated Air-to-Air Refueling (A3R) in relevant MBSE models. Advance MBSE tool and artifact development. - Continue the development of the sensors, logic, and algorithms necessary for tanker-receiver pairing as part of the A3R Relative Navigation system. - Continue the development of the fully automated mechanical system to enable automated air-to-air refueling as part of the A3R boom automation system. - Continue end-to-end system testing to demonstrate the ARBM capabilities with human-in-the-loop evaluations. - Continue certification with advanced analysis for ground testing of A3R's automated boom system. - Complete ARBM flight test preparation and planning to support initial flight demo to inform design and utility. - Complete A3R relative navigation flight test planning and preparation. - Complete A3R boom automation flight test planning and preparation. - Commence A3R relative navigation flight testing execution. - Commence A3R boom automation flight test execution. - Commence ARBM flight test execution. - Commence ARBM initial transition and coordination with stakeholders and transition partners.

**FY2026 to FY2027 change.** FY 2027 funding decreased compared to FY 2026 by $1.187 million due to a minor reduction in development costs.

## Before the request year

**FY2026 plans — current year.** - Continue ARBM algorithm development, test, and evaluation based on the modeling and simulation operational utility analysis. Implement improvements to the algorithms required to improve system level performance. - Continue Model Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) development and collaboration with the program office to refine the system models and capture new aspects related to the CRONUS algorithm development. - Continue Hardware-In-the-Loop / Software-In-the-Loop (HIL/SIL) environment development and implementation. - Continue modeling and simulation operational utility analysis based on updates/improvements of the Air Refueling Battle Management (ARBM) algorithms. - Continue modeling and simulation of Automated Air-to-Air Refueling (A3R) in relevant MBSE models. Advance MBSE tool and artifact development. - Continue the development of the sensors, logic, and algorithms necessary for tanker-receiver pairing as part of the A3R Relative Navigation system. - Continue the development of the fully automated mechanical system to enable automated air-to-air refueling as part of the A3R boom automation system. - Continue end-to-end system testing to demonstrate the ARBM capabilities with human-in-the-loop evaluations. - Complete A3R relative navigation lab and ground test planning and preparation and conduct lab demonstration. - Complete A3R boom automation lab and ground test planning and preparation and conduct lab demonstration. - Continue certification with advanced analysis for ground testing of A3R's automated boom system. - Continue ARBM flight test preparation and planning to support initial flight demo to inform design and utility. - Commence A3R relative navigation flight test planning and preparation. - Commence A3R boom automation flight test planning and preparation.

## Funding

| Fiscal Year | Estimate Type | Amount ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | Actual | 25.4 |
| FY2026 | Enacted | 39.2 |
| FY2027 | Request | 38.0 |

> 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 630320

- [Vanguard Prospect - Ephemeral Paragon (E-Gon)](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0603032F/630320/a5) — FY2027 45.9
- [Vanguard Pathfinder - Integrated Combat Effects](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0603032F/630320/a13) — FY2027 42.6
- [Vanguard Prospect - EO/IR Sensing Demonstration](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0603032F/630320/a10) — FY2027 36.5
- [Vanguard Prospect - Payload Delivery System](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0603032F/630320/a9) — FY2027 32.9
- [Vanguard Prospect - Scabbard Rage](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0603032F/630320/a8) — FY2027 30.7
- [Vanguard Prospect - APEX GEAR](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0603032F/630320/a7) — FY2027 27.0
- [Vanguard Pathfinder - Integrated Electronic Warfare](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0603032F/630320/a11) — FY2027 13.1
- [Vanguard Pathfinder - Integrated Networks](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0603032F/630320/a12) — FY2027 11.2
- WARTECH — FY2027 4.0
- Vanguard Prospect - Resolute Sentry — FY2027 0.0
- Vanguard Prospect - Area Effects Demonstration — FY2027 0.0
- Vanguard Prospect - Fight Tonight — FY2027 0.0
- Vanguard Prospect - Swift Hammer — FY2027 0.0

## Source & machine access

- **Source:** FY2027 Department of the Air Force RDT&E Budget Justification, Exhibit R-2A, PE 0603032F project 630320 (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.*