# Advanced Guidance, Navigation and Control (GNC) Technologies

**R-2A activity** of project 634094 — Next Gen Platform Dev/Demo  
**Program element:** 0603273F — Next Gen Platform Dev/Demo  
**Component:** U.S. Air Force · **Budget Activity:** 3  
**Vintage:** President's Budget PB2027  
**Canonical URL:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/0603273F/634094/a2  
**Parent:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/0603273F

## Summary

This activity requests $25.0M in FY2027, 15% of project 634094, up 20% 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.** Accelerometer Development: - Continue strategic-grade, solid-state radiation-hardened guidance solution development and radiation component testing. - Continue preparations to deliver additional solid-state, high lateral acceleration (high-g) accelerometers for insertion into Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) future architecture. - Complete building the solid-state, low-g accelerometer with integrated Application Specific Integration for insertion into IMU future architecture. - Complete delivery of the first set of solid-state, high lateral acceleration (high-g) accelerometers. - Commence preparations to deliver additional solid-state, low lateral acceleration (low-g) accelerometers for insertion into IMU future architecture. Gyroscope Development: - Continue laboratory experimentation of Resonant Fiber Optic Gyroscope (RFOG) electrical and optical components to inform the iterative development of ensuing RFOG design. - Continue risk reduction evaluation of RFOG components, including fiber improvement, radiation-hardened component development, and light source performance. - Complete final RFOG design trade studies and develop mechanical flight architecture. - Complete risk reduction evaluation of RFOG light source performance. - Complete design of next RFOG prototype iteration for future insertion into the IMU flight prototype. - Commence the design, build, and delivery of first form-fit-function RFOG prototype iteration for future insertion into IMU flight prototype unit. Inertial Measurement Unit: - Continue IMU development and maturation through the design, construction, and environmental testing of inertial sensor components in laboratory IMU prototypes. - Continue the acquisition of long-lead IMU components and continue bench-level characterization for the IMU system with maturing sensor designs. - Continue IMU radiation-hardening electronics design, construction, and risk reduction analyses to ensure progressive evaluation. - Continue covariance analysis improvements through sensor and system test data inputs to predict IMU performance. - Commence the build of the first IMU flight test unit. - Commence planning and integration of Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC) flight experimentation. - Commence trade evaluation of optical navigation technologies and other navigation aids.

**FY2026 to FY2027 change.** This effort increases by $4.175 million from FY 2026 to FY 2027 due to growing requirements relating to the planning and delivery of a solid-state, low lateral acceleration (low-g) accelerometer for insertion into Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) future architecture; experimentation and evaluation of optical navigation technologies; evaluation of supplemental navigation aids; and the building of the first IMU flight test unit.

## Before the request year

**FY2026 plans — current year.** Accelerometer: - Continue strategic-grade, solid-state radiation-hardened guidance solution development and radiation component testing. - Continue preparations to deliver a solid-state, high lateral acceleration (high-g) accelerometer for insertion into Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) future architecture. - Complete design of solid-state, low-g accelerometer with integrated Application Specific Integration for insertion into IMU architecture. - Complete designing high lateral acceleration (high-g) accelerometer Application Specific Integration Circuits. - Commence building the solid-state, low-g accelerometer with integrated Application Specific Integration for insertion into IMU future architecture. Gyroscope: - Continue laboratory experimentation of Resonant Fiber Optic Gyroscope (RFOG) electrical and optical components to inform the iterative development of ensuing RFOG design. - Continue final RFOG design trade studies and develop mechanical flight architecture. - Continue risk reduction evaluation of RFOG components, including fiber improvement, radiation-hardened component development, and light source performance. - Complete the delivery of initial prototype testbed RFOG for insertion into IMU demonstrator. - Commence design of next RFOG prototype iteration for future insertion into the IMU flight prototype. Inertial Measurement Unit: - Continue IMU development and maturation through the design, construction, and environmental testing of inertial sensor components. - Continue the acquisition of long-lead IMU components and continue bench-level characterization for IMU system with maturing sensor designs. - Continue IMU radiation-hardening electronics design, construction, and risk reduction analyses to ensure progressive evaluation. - Continue covariance analysis improvements through sensor and system test data inputs to predict IMU performance.

## Funding

| Fiscal Year | Estimate Type | Amount ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | Actual | 12.6 |
| FY2026 | Enacted | 20.9 |
| FY2027 | Request | 25.0 |

> 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 634094

- [Aeroshell Technologies](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0603273F/634094/a0) — FY2027 96.6
- [Integration, Experimentation, and Evaluation Solutions](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0603273F/634094/a3) — FY2027 37.6
- Advanced Fuzing Technologies — FY2027 6.8

## Source & machine access

- **Source:** FY2027 Department of the Air Force RDT&E Budget Justification, Exhibit R-2A, PE 0603273F project 634094 (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.*