# Combat Identification Technology — Program Element 0603742F

**Program element:** 0603742F  
**Component:** U.S. Air Force  
**Appropriation:** 3600 — RDT&E, Air Force  
**Budget Activity:** 4 — Advanced Component Development & Prototypes  
**Vintage:** President's Budget PB2027  
**Canonical URL:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/0603742F

## Summary

U.S. Air Force requests $25.9M in FY2027, sustained across the five-year plan. In the FY2027 defense authorization, the House funded it in full; the Senate funded it in full; House appropriators funded it in full. NASIC leads the industry work.

## Funding profile

| Fiscal Year | Estimate Type | Amount ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | Actual | 16.8 |
| FY2026 | Enacted | 24.9 |
| FY2027 | Request | 25.9 |
| FY2028 | Outyear | 25.8 |
| FY2029 | Outyear | 26.3 |
| FY2030 | Outyear | 26.8 |
| FY2031 | Outyear | 27.4 |

> 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 | 25.9 | — |
| House NDAA (HASC) | 25.9 | +0.0 |
| Senate NDAA (SASC) | 25.9 | +0.0 |
| House Approps (HAC-D) | 25.9 | +0.0 |

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

## Projects (3)

| Project | Title | FY2025 actual | FY2026 enacted | FY2027 request | Move |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 642597 | Noncooperative Identification Subsystems | 14.9 | 22.0 | 22.9 | +4% |
| 643420 | Combat ID Database Development | 1.8 | 2.8 | 2.9 | +3% |
| 642599 | Cooperative Identification Techniques | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | +4% |

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

### Project 642597 — Noncooperative Identification Subsystems

Non-cooperative combat identification (CID) employs multiple sensing technologies and signal processing techniques designed to extract discriminating features from a battlespace entity (target). Specifically designed algorithms compare those extracted features to a tailored database to identify those targets. This is the primary method for advanced CID development and the key enabler for aiding Air Force kill-chains in denied access environments. These technologies include: (A) non-cooperative Air Target Identification (ATID) technologies, (B) non-cooperative Ground Target Identification (GTID) technologies, and (C) Studies evaluating potential new technologies. ATID development focuses on platform-centric CID technologies that enhance capability to determine enemy air threats. A primary area of focus is the development/implementation of the government-owned joint standard for CID, Joint Multi-platform Advanced Combat identification (JMAC) architecture shared/implemented by Army, Air Force, Navy, and MDA; it fuses multiple sensors to provide a robust, advanced CID solution aimed at the discovery/generation of CID features from fielded sensors. JMAC is one of three key technologies in the Missile Defense Agency's Joint Tactical Integrated Fire Control (JTIFC) Architecture, as such it is being adopted for homeland defense. Other areas of focus include combat identification technologies that broaden the application of CID across air platforms utilizing larger air-to-air kill-webs planned for employment by the Air Force and utilize assets in unmanned aerial systems and space to improve and enable CID in future threat air engagements. GTID development focuses on platform-centric CID technologies that enhance capability to determine priority enemy ground threat systems (both offensive and defensive systems). Primary areas of focus include transitioning CID capability for denied access environments using passive radio frequency and electronic warfare information, integrating radio-based technologies into the cockpit to increase confidence of target identification and situational awareness as well as reduce fratricides, and to demonstrate weapon-based combat identification back to the launch platform using a communication link from that launched weapon.

| Activity (R-2A) | FY2025 | FY2026 | FY2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studies | 0.8 | 3.1 | 2.2 |
| Air Target Identification | 7.4 | 9.6 | 11.5 |
| Ground Target Identification | 6.6 | 9.3 | 9.2 |

> 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 643420 — Combat ID Database Development

The Database thrust area is designed to remove the "hard-coded”, static, identification (ID) parameters (typically updated every 4-5 years) from the host platform's sensor(s) and replace them with parameterized values that are more easily and rapidly updated when new intelligence inputs come available. This allows maximum flexibility to tailor each aircraft's Combat Identification (CID) database(s) based on assigned theater of operation, threat country of interest, and assigned mission tasks. This project primarily consists of four objectives: A) determining a sensor's capability to capture target features for CID, B) designing and developing a database to contain the CID features identified in Objective A, C) developing techniques to generate the requisite features, and D) providing CID features developed from measured or modeled data.

**Named R-3 performers** (share of this project's FY2027 R-3 total, so they need not reach 100%)**:** NASIC (1.1, 38%).

| Activity (R-2A) | FY2025 | FY2026 | FY2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Database Development | 1.8 | 2.8 | 2.9 |

> 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 642599 — Cooperative Identification Techniques

Cooperative Combat Identification (CID) investigates technologies required to rapidly identify friendly platforms. The program develops, integrates and evaluates technologies that provide Air Force platforms with a means of positively identifying an air or ground platform as a friendly, via active or passive cooperative identification capabilities. This thrust area includes non-traditional cooperative approaches, as well as initial work on a follow-on cooperative system advancing beyond Identification Friend or Foe (IFF - Mode 5) previously developed and transitioned by this Program. Funding for initial studies related on the next generation IFF (potentially labeled Mode 6) began in FY 2023.

| Activity (R-2A) | FY2025 | FY2026 | FY2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Non-Traditional Cooperative / Cooperative Follow-on System | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 |

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

## Where the FY2027 request goes

| Category | Share | $M |
|---|---|---|
| Industry primes | 4.3% | 1.1 |
| Other / unspecified | 96% | 24.8 |

**Top named industry performers:** NASIC ($1.1M, 4.3%).

> R-3 exhibit contract funding, not USAspending obligations.

## Mission & acquisition strategy

Non-cooperative combat identification (CID) employs multiple sensing technologies and signal processing techniques designed to extract discriminating features from a battlespace entity (target). Specifically designed algorithms compare those extracted features to a tailored database to identify those targets. This is the primary method for advanced CID development and the key enabler for aiding Air Force kill-chains in denied access environments. These technologies include: (A) non-cooperative Air Target Identification (ATID) technologies, (B) non-cooperative Ground Target Identification (GTID) technologies, and (C) Studies evaluating potential new technologies.

Combat Identification develops technologies for exploitation by the United States Air Force (USAF) and other services. Implement end product investment in government organizations that will maintain database infrastructures and utilize information to inform combat identification (CID) across all USAF platforms. Use of competitive contract awards and existing contract vehicles emphasizing the use of government owned technologies, government off-the-shelf technology (GOTS), commercial off-the-shelf (COTS), and maximize the use of non-developmental items (NDIs). Management develops a technology to a point it can be demonstrated in a relevant operational environment.

## Related program elements

- [0305206F — Airborne Reconnaissance Systems](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0305206F) (Air Force)
- [0208288F — Space Superiority - Advanced Intelligence Systems](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0208288F) (Air Force)
- [0305103C — Cyber Security Initiative](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0305103C) (Defense-Wide)
- [0604454N — LX (R)](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0604454N) (Navy)

## Source & machine access

- **Source:** FY2027 Department of the Air Force RDT&E Budget Justification, Exhibits R-2/R-3, PE 0603742F (PB PB2027); FY2027 NDAA committee marks (as of 2026-07-27).
- **MCP:** `mcp.hitchintel.com` — `budget_get_program_element(pe="0603742F")`.

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