# Networked Communications Capability — Program Element 0603662D8Z

**Program element:** 0603662D8Z  
**Component:** Defense-Wide  
**Appropriation:** 0400 — RDT&E, Defense-Wide  
**Budget Activity:** 3 — Advanced Technology Development  
**Vintage:** President's Budget PB2027  
**Canonical URL:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/0603662D8Z

## Summary

Defense-Wide funding ramps 3442% to a $696.3M request in FY2027 — the program's peak, before stepping down 90% across the five-year plan. In the FY2027 defense authorization, the House cut 5.0% (to $661.3M); the Senate funded it in full; House appropriators funded it in full.

## Funding profile

| Fiscal Year | Estimate Type | Amount ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | Actual | 22.2 |
| FY2026 | Enacted | 19.7 |
| FY2027 | Request | 696.3 |
| FY2028 | Outyear | 421.6 |
| FY2029 | Outyear | 164.0 |
| FY2030 | Outyear | 105.5 |
| FY2031 | Outyear | 72.5 |

> Estimate types are not summed — the profile mixes actuals, enacted law, the request, and outyear projections.

## Congressional marks (FY2027)

| Stage | Marked ($M) | Change ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| Request | 696.3 | — |
| House NDAA (HASC) | 661.3 | −35.0 |
| Senate NDAA (SASC) | 696.3 | +0.0 |
| House Approps (HAC-D) | 696.3 | +0.0 |

> FY2027 NDAA authorization marks, as of 2026-07-27. Not appropriations or final law.

## Projects (2)

| Project | Title | FY2025 actual | FY2026 enacted | FY2027 request | Move |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 665 | NC3 TECH ACCELERATOR | 0.0 | 0.0 | 696.3 | new start |
| 663 | Networked Communications Analysis | 22.2 | 19.7 | — | −100% |

> Projects are the summable leaves: the program element total is their sum, never added to it.

### Project 665 — NC3 TECH ACCELERATOR

Modern threats from adversaries drastically shorten the U.S. decision-making timeline required to counter these threats, and specifically, threats that hinder timely execution of Presidential nuclear command and control. NC3 Tech Accelerator is focused Presidential nuclear command and control mission.

| Activity (R-2A) | FY2025 | FY2026 | FY2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| NC3 TECH ACCELERATOR | 0.0 | — | 696.3 |

> R-2A activities carry the prior, current and budget year only — no five-year plan. Coverage is partial, so count them, never total them.

### Project 663 — Networked Communications Analysis

Threats to communication systems emanate from a variety of sources, encompassing electromagnetic, cyber, and kinetic elements, among others. The central objective of research and development in network communications is to guide the Services, partners, and industry towards the creation of fully networked and integrated capabilities that exhibit interoperability, resilience, and security. This involves the strategic identification and acceleration of critical technologies, leading to their transition to both strategic and tactical forces. The goal is to ensure that C3 systems are trusted, accessible, and reliable anywhere, anytime, and under any conditions for tactical to strategic missions, thereby enhancing the lethality of the warfighting force. In the face of peer aggressors armed with advanced kinetic and non-kinetic threats, the imperative for trusted and reliable C3 becomes even more pronounced. This capability is viewed not only as a critical deterrence measure but also as essential for providing a decisive and lethal response when required, spanning tactical to strategic missions.

| Activity (R-2A) | FY2025 | FY2026 | FY2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Networked Communications Analysis | 22.2 | 19.7 | — |

> R-2A activities carry the prior, current and budget year only — no five-year plan. Coverage is partial, so count them, never total them.

## Mission & acquisition strategy

The Networked Communications Capability (NCC) plays a vital role in supporting the Department of War (DoW) and Defense Industrial Base (DIB) ecosystem. NCC focuses on maturing and demonstrating technologies that foster interoperable, resilient, and capable strategic and Joint Force communications capabilities. Given the critical reliance of DoW missions on command, control, and communications (C3) infrastructure, the NCC addresses challenges faced by the DoW's C3 infrastructure, including internal system-centric design approaches, as opposed to network- and data-centric ones, and external threats from aggressive adversary actions.

## Related program elements

- [0603468E — Advanced Complex Systems](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0603468E) (Defense-Wide)
- [0604307N — Surface Combatant Cmbt Sys Eng](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0604307N) (Navy)
- [0303153K — PEO Spectrum](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0303153K) (Defense-Wide)
- [1206442SF — Next Generation OPIR](https://hitchintel.com/programs/1206442SF) (Space Force)

## Source & machine access

- **Source:** FY2027 Office of the Secretary of Defense RDT&E Budget Justification, Exhibits R-2/R-3, PE 0603662D8Z (PB PB2027); FY2027 NDAA committee marks (as of 2026-07-27).
- **MCP:** `mcp.hitchintel.com` — `budget_get_program_element(pe="0603662D8Z")`.

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