# Project 3405 — METOC Data Collection, Dissemination, Decision Spt

**Program element:** 0603207N — Air/Ocean Tactical Applications  
**Project:** 3405  
**Component:** U.S. Navy  
**Appropriation:** 1319 — RDT&E, Navy  
**Budget Activity:** 4 — Advanced Component Development & Prototypes  
**Vintage:** President's Budget PB2027  
**Canonical URL:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/0603207N/3405  
**Parent:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/0603207N

## Summary

Project 3405 — METOC Data Collection, Dissemination, Decision Spt requests $11.5M in FY2027, 15% of the $76.1M requested for program element 0603207N, down 1.5% on FY2026. 3 R-2A activities decompose the request. NRL is the largest named R-3 performer at $5.8M, 50% of the project's FY2027 R-3 total.

## Funding profile

| Fiscal Year | Estimate Type | Amount ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | Actual | 1.2 |
| FY2026 | Enacted | 11.7 |
| FY2027 | Request | 11.5 |
| FY2028 | Outyear | 11.8 |
| FY2029 | Outyear | 12.0 |
| FY2030 | Outyear | 12.1 |
| FY2031 | Outyear | 12.3 |

> Estimate types are not summed. This project is one leaf of PE 0603207N; the PE total is the sum of its projects, never added to them.

## What project 3405 buys

The major work of the Meteorology and Oceanography (METOC) Data Collection, Dissemination and Decision Support Project is to provide warfighters with an information advantage in both permissive and data-denied conditions through the sensing, monitoring, management and dissemination of critical physical battlespace environmental data, from the sea floor to the ionosphere. Efforts falling within the Meteorology and Oceanography (METOC) Data Collection, Dissemination and Decision Support Project provide future capabilities to sense and monitor the battlespace environment for near-time situational awareness, assimilation into high resolution numerical weather and ocean prediction models, and the current environment for use in battle management and decision support applications to optimize fleet operations. Under this project METOC data is optimized, formatted and compressed for dissemination to naval and DoW warfighters. The development and integration of acoustic, electromagnetic and electro-optic transmission/attenuation models and algorithms within these decision aids allow warfighters to assess and optimize weapon, sensor and communications system's performance. The efforts within this project, combined with those of the METOC Data Assimilation and Modeling (Project 2342), serve to provide full-spectrum battlespace environment characterization and prediction to protect naval forces and infrastructure and optimize naval operations and planning.

**R-3 lines of work:** Product Development; Support.

## Named R-3 performers

| Performer | $M | Share of this project's FY2027 R-3 total |
|---|---|---|
| NRL | 5.8 | 50% |

> Budget-justification contract funding, not obligations. Shares need not reach 100% — unnamed and government work is in the denominator.

## Activities (R-2A) — 3

| Activity | FY2025 | FY2026 | FY2027 | Move | Page |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Collections | 0.0 | 8.7 | 8.6 | −2% | — |
| Decision Support Products and Dissemination | 1.2 | 1.8 | 1.7 | −1% | — |
| Dissemination | 0.0 | 1.2 | 1.2 | +1% | — |

> Activities carry the prior, current and budget year only — no five-year plan. In the request year they partition this project exactly; in earlier years they can under-cover it.

### Collections

**FY2027 planned work.** -Continue to mature the Navy Coupled Ocean Data Assimilation-Forward (NCODAf) ocean observation collection and assimilation system. Specific efforts include adding the ability to ingest multiple observation types. Objective is an enhanced ocean tactical acoustic environmental awareness for assets with limited communications. -Continue development, validation and operationalization of advanced software components that enable Navy numerical weather and ocean prediction models to ingest and quality control observations from recently available satellites, including commercial and partner nation instruments. Specific efforts include adapting to sensors on several US and ESA satellites launching in 2024-2025. Objective is an increased quantity and quality of observations leading to improved forecast model performance. -Continue evaluation integration and transition of sea surface composition and structure by remote and inverted or "through-the-sensor" means. Specific efforts will include validation of electro-optical, acoustic and synthetic aperture radar observations in an operational setting. The objective is to increase the number, resolution and variation of observations to significantly improve tactical decision aid initialization. -Continue validation and maturation of Ionospheric data collection and application programming interfaces important to forecasting the capabilities and limitations of long-range communications. Specific efforts support multiple programs.

**FY2026 to FY2027 change.** There is no significant change between FY 2026 and FY 2027 funding.

**FY2026 plans — current year.** -Continue to mature the Navy Coupled Ocean Data Assimilation-Forward (NCODAf) ocean observation collection and assimilation system. Specific efforts include adding the ability to ingest multiple observation types. Objective is an enhanced ocean tactical acoustic environmental awareness for assets with limited communications. -Continue development, validation and operationalization of advanced software components that enable Navy numerical weather and ocean prediction models to ingest and quality control observations from recently available satellites, including commercial and partner nation instruments. Specific efforts include adapting to sensors on several US and ESA satellites launching in 2024-2025. Objective is an increased quantity and quality of observations leading to improved forecast model performance. -Continue evaluation integration and transition of sea surface composition and structure by remote and inverted or "through-the-sensor" means. Specific efforts will include validation of electro-optical, acoustic and synthetic aperture radar observations in an operational setting. The objective is to increase the number, resolution and variation of observations to significantly improve tactical decision aid initialization. -Continue validation and maturation of Ionospheric data collection and application programming interfaces important to forecasting the capabilities and limitations of long-range communications. Specific efforts support multiple programs.

### Decision Support Products and Dissemination

**FY2027 planned work.** -Complete evaluation and integrate automated mission environmental forecast briefings for unmanned aircraft. Specific projects will address large-unmanned aircraft and will develop the capability to rapidly generate NATOPS compliant flight weather briefs. -Continue development of enhanced integration/visualization of meteorology and oceanography products for improved support to multiple mission areas. Specific efforts include incorporating 3D visualization technology for tactical USW displays on forward deployed units, with the objective of enabling rapid decision making in low-information scenarios. -Continue integration of acoustic oceanographic data and model components as to tactical decision aids. Specific efforts include validating data quality for acceptance into the Ocean and Atmospheric Master Library. The objective is to expand and improve the authorized suite of tactical decision aid-supporting databases and models. -Continue to develop, validate and integrate processes for inclusion of quantified atmospheric aerosol data into 1) calibration and correction algorithms for satellite retrieval of other environmental parameters, and into 2) tactical data aids supporting multiple weapons, sensors and decision systems. Specific efforts include developing the ability to provide recommendations for emergent energetic devices. Objective is increasing the accuracy of sensor and weapons performance predictions. -Continue mature capabilities in the operational Interactive Scenario Builder Tactical Decision Aid (BUILDER). Specific elements include incorporation of long-range surveillance performance prediction, improved boundary layer characteristics and EO/IR sensor prediction performance, integration of expanded METOC numerical model information and demonstration of probabilistic ensemble information. The objective is to develop a comprehensive module providing electromagnetic impacts on tactical sensors. -Continue to transition ocean acoustic prediction and database innovations via the Scalable Tactical Acoustic Propagation Loss Engine (STAPLE) project and its follow-on, the Common Tactical Decision Aid (CTDA). Specific efforts include direct integration of METOC programs into platform and sensor programs of record via the APB/CPB incremental build processes. -Initiate the development of an aerosol reanalysis database for the prediction of electromagnetic/electrooptical impacts on weapons and sensors in a bandwidth limited environment. - Initiate the development of the ability to track tactically significant ocean features by acoustic vice physical oceanographic impacts.

**FY2026 to FY2027 change.** There is no significant change between FY 2026 and FY 2027 funding.

**FY2026 plans — current year.** -Continue to operationally evaluate and integrate automated mission environmental forecast briefings for unmanned aircraft. Specific projects will address large-unmanned aircraft and will develop the capability to rapidly generate NATOPS compliant flight weather briefs. -Continue development of enhanced integration/visualization of meteorology and oceanography products for improved support to multiple mission areas. Specific efforts include incorporating 3D visualization technology for tactical USW displays on forward deployed units, with the objective of enabling rapid decision making in low-information scenarios. -Continue integration of acoustic oceanographic data and model components as to tactical decision aids. Specific efforts include validating data quality for acceptance into the Ocean and Atmospheric Master Library. Objective is to expand and improve the authorized suite of tactical decision aid-supporting databases and model. -Continue to develop, validate and integrate processes for inclusion of quantified atmospheric aerosol data into 1) calibration and correction algorithms for satellite retrieval of other environmental parameters, and into 2) tactical data aids supporting multiple weapons, sensors and decision systems. Specific efforts include developing the ability to provide recommendations for emergent energetic devices Objective is increasing the accuracy of sensor and weapons performance predictions. -Continue mature capabilities in the operational Interactive Scenario Builder Tactical Decision Aid (BUILDER). Specific elements include incorporation of long-range surveillance performance prediction, improved boundary layer characteristics and EO/IR sensor prediction performance, integration of expanded METOC numerical model information and demonstration of probabilistic ensemble information. Objective is to develop a comprehensive module providing electromagnetic impacts to tactical sensors. -Continue to transition ocean acoustic prediction and database innovations via the Scalable Tactical Acoustic Propagation Loss Engine (STAPLE) project and its follow-on, the Common Tactical Decision Aid (CTDA). Specific efforts include direct integration of METOC programs into platform and sensor programs of record via the APB/CPB incremental build processes.

### Dissemination

**FY2027 planned work.** -Continue development of data compression and reduced-bandwidth transmission techniques to enable timely receipt of relevant environmental assessment and prediction data to forward platforms in strict communications environments. Specific efforts include transmission of volumetric ocean data over extremely low bandwidth for forward use in USW scenarios. -Continue maturation of aviation METOC services and integration into aviation decision tools, including integration into the next generation replacements for the Joint Mission Planning System (JMPS). -Continue to mature and expand applications of Refractivity from Radio (RFR) projects, including extraction of atmospheric information from radar clutter. Specific efforts include the analysis of data collected from operational platforms in 2024-2025. Objective is development of regional models that effectively predict refractive conditions leading to improved communications and sensor employment planning. -Continue efforts in data compression and delivery. Specific efforts include evaluation and integration of single-value decomposition applications to forecast model output, application of automation-based compression techniques. Objective is to enable delivery of timely and relevant environmental information to communications-limited assets. -Continue to transition Ocean-Atmosphere Master Library (OAML) model and database improvements into the Scalable Tactical Acoustic Propagation Loss Engine (STAPLE)/Common Tactical Decision Aid (CTDA). The objective is to provide state-of-the-art propagation models and tactical environmental information to ASW units. -Continue enhancements to newly fielded RF and EO capabilities per fleet feedback, including efforts to transition tactical EMW and undersea warfare environmental information dissemination systems, and adoption of new tactical decision aid capabilities.

**FY2026 to FY2027 change.** There is no significant change between FY 2026 and FY 2027 funding.

**FY2026 plans — current year.** -Continue development of data compression and reduced-bandwidth transmission techniques to enable timely receipt of relevant environmental assessment and prediction data to forward platforms in strict communications environments. Specific efforts include transmission of volumetric ocean data over extremely low bandwidth for forward use in USW scenarios. -Continue maturation of aviation METOC services and integration into aviation decision tools, including integration into the next generation replacements for the Joint Mission Planning System (JMPS). -Continue to mature and expand applications of Refractivity from Radio (RFR) projects, including extraction of atmospheric information from radar clutter. Specific efforts include the analysis of data collected from operational platforms in 2024-2025. Objective is development of regional models that effectively predict refractive conditions leading to improved communications and sensor employment planning. -Continue efforts in data compression and delivery. Specific efforts include evaluation and integration of single-value decomposition applications to forecast model output, application of automation-based compression techniques. Objective is to enable delivery of timely and relevant environmental information to communications-limited assets. -Continue to transition Ocean-Atmosphere Master Library (OAML) model and database improvements into the Scalable Tactical Acoustic Propagation Loss Engine (STAPLE)/Common Tactical Decision Aid (CTDA). The objective is to provide state-of-the-art propagation models and tactical environmental information to ASW units. -Continue enhancements to newly fielded RF and EO capabilities per fleet feedback, including efforts to transition tactical EMW and undersea warfare environmental information dissemination systems, and adoption of new tactical decision aid capabilities.

## What is NOT on this page

Congressional marks, the R-2 mission description and acquisition strategy, the industry vs government split of the whole request, and related program elements are recorded at **program-element** grain — an NDAA mark lands on a PE, never on a project. They are at https://hitchintel.com/programs/0603207N.

## Source & machine access

- **Source:** FY2027 Department of the Navy RDT&E Budget Justification, Exhibits R-2/R-2A/R-3, PE 0603207N project 3405 (PB PB2027).
- **MCP:** `mcp.hitchintel.com` — `budget_get_program_element(pe="0603207N")`.

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