# Ballistic Missile Defense Targets — Program Element 0603915C

**Program element:** 0603915C  
**Component:** Defense-Wide  
**Appropriation:** 0400 — RDT&E, Defense-Wide  
**Budget Activity:** 4 — Advanced Component Development & Prototypes  
**Vintage:** President's Budget PB2027  
**Canonical URL:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/0603915C

## Summary

Defense-Wide requests $518.5M in FY2027, sustained across the five-year plan. In the FY2027 defense authorization, the House added 3.9% (to $538.5M); the Senate added 5.2% (to $545.5M); House appropriators cut 6.6% (to $484.2M). Northrop Grumman leads the industry work, though an unusually large share flows to government labs and warfare centers.

## Funding profile

| Fiscal Year | Estimate Type | Amount ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | Actual | 601.5 |
| FY2026 | Enacted | 514.9 |
| FY2027 | Request | 518.5 |
| FY2028 | Outyear | 641.4 |
| FY2029 | Outyear | 573.2 |
| FY2030 | Outyear | 431.2 |
| FY2031 | Outyear | 560.8 |

> 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 | 518.5 | — |
| House NDAA (HASC) | 538.5 | +20.0 |
| Senate NDAA (SASC) | 545.5 | +27.0 |
| House Approps (HAC-D) | 484.2 | −34.4 |

> 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MT05 | BMDS Targets Program | 576.4 | 495.1 | 493.8 | −0% |
| MD40 | Program Wide Support | 23.3 | 17.8 | 22.8 | +28% |
| MC05 | Cyber Operations | 1.8 | 2.0 | 1.9 | −4% |

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

### Project MT05 — BMDS Targets Program

The Missile Defense System Targets Program is an integral part of the Missile Defense System. Although Missile Defense System Targets Program is not a component of the fielded Missile Defense System, it supports all of the Missile Defense System programs across the Missile Defense Agency (MDA). The mission of the Missile Defense System Targets Program is to provide an economical and reliable inventory of targets spanning the parametric threat space. These targets enable demonstration of Missile Defense System capabilities in operationally realistic scenarios. The Missile Defense System Targets Program develops and acquires five target types across four target classes. The target classes are Short Range Ballistic Missiles (SRBM), Medium Range Ballistic Missiles (MRBM), Intermediate Range Ballistic Missiles (IRBM), and Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBM). The target types (Type 1-5) designate the complexity of the target within its class. Type-1 (T1) targets are simple baseline configurations. Type-2 (T2) targets have increased capability or complexity. Type-3 (T3) targets are threat unique configurations. Type-4 (T4) targets are subscale targets. Type-5 (T5) targets are advanced targets including Hypersonic Target Vehicle front end. The Missile Defense System Targets Program develops and provides Modified Ballistic Re-Entry Vehicles (MBRV) and Countermeasures (CM) that can be used across the spectrum of target types and classes. The Missile Defense System Targets Program provides target digital models that enable the MDA weapon system program offices to simulate end to end sensor and interceptor performance during pre-mission analysis. The Missile Defense System Targets Program also provides maintenance, aging surveillance, refurbishment, and routine testing of government furnished equipment boosters and target components. The Missile Defense System Targets Program carefully plans the year of execution to assure the best use of appropriated funds. However, the Missile Defense System Targets Program must be flexible in its execution of the program in order to respond to emerging real-world threats or changes in the intelligence community estimates of when a threat will be deployed.

**Named R-3 performers** (share of this project's FY2027 R-3 total, so they need not reach 100%)**:** Northrop Grumman (87.9, 18%), Lockheed Martin (31.0, 6.3%), STRATEGIC ALLIANCE SOLUTIONS (4.1, 0.8%), Mobius Consulting (3.6, 0.7%).

| Activity (R-2A) | FY2025 | FY2026 | FY2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consumables - Short Range Ballistic Missiles (SRBM) | 16.5 | 40.3 | 26.8 |
| Consumables - Medium Range Ballistic Missiles (MRBM) | 293.6 | 190.2 | 210.1 |
| Consumables - Intermediate Range Ballistic Missiles (IRBM) | 73.5 | 40.3 | 84.1 |
| Consumables - Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBM) | 54.9 | 61.0 | 4.9 |
| Program Planning & Operations | 71.6 | 65.6 | 72.7 |
| Resources | 52.0 | 64.2 | 51.8 |
| Flight Test Execution | 14.4 | 33.6 | 43.3 |

> 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 MD40 — Program Wide Support

PWS contains non-headquarters management costs in support of Missile Defense Agency (MDA) functions and activities across the entire Missile Defense System. These functions include Government Civilians and Contract Support Services. This effort provides integrity and oversight of the Missile Defense System as well as supports MDA in the development and evaluation of technologies that will respond to the changing threat. Additionally, PWS includes personnel to support global deployments performing deployment site preparation and activation, and provides facility capabilities for MDA Executing Agent locations worldwide. Other MDA wide costs include: physical and technical security; civilian drug testing; audit readiness; the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) program; legal services and settlements; travel and agency training; office, equipment, vehicle, and warehouse leases; utilities and base operations across multiple geographic locations; commercial and ancillary facility services; management of all facility aspects regardless of lifecycle stage; supplies and maintenance; compliance with statutory environmental requirements; data and unified communications support; materiel and readiness and central property management of equipment; Facilities Sustainment, Restoration and Modernization (FSRM) program (formerly Real Property Maintenance) to keep the Department's inventory of facilities in good working order; and similar operating expenses. PWS is allocated on a pro-rata basis across most Agency PEs and, therefore, fluctuates per PE by FY based on the total Agency budget in that FY.

**Named R-3 performers** (share of this project's FY2027 R-3 total, so they need not reach 100%)**:** STRATEGIC ALLIANCE SOLUTIONS (4.3, 19%), SYSTEM HIGH (3.0, 13%), Tatitlek Management Services (2.6, 11%), PCI Productions (1.5, 6.7%).

| Activity (R-2A) | FY2025 | FY2026 | FY2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Program Wide Support | 23.3 | 17.8 | 22.8 |

> 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 MC05 — Cyber Operations

Cybersecurity Operations sustains Missile Defense System Targets Program Risk Management Framework (RMF) standards, Computer Network Defense (CND) Local Control Center, and Controls Validation Testing (CVT) activities. Cybersecurity operations maintain the Authorization and Accreditation Enterprise Mission Assurance Support Service (eMASS) repository, capturing the RMF documentation (artifacts, validation results, and cybersecurity risk assessment results, authorization official accreditation decisions, and Plans of Action and Milestones (POA&Ms) on all Missile Defense System Targets Program information systems non-compliance activities). Cybersecurity operations support the monitoring and tracking of cybersecurity mitigations detailed in the cybersecurity POA&Ms within eMASS. The CND Local Control Center validates assured compliance assessment solution vulnerabilities, endpoint security solution compliance, ArcSight deployment, and ensures distribution and tracking of cybersecurity tasking orders for the entire Missile Defense System Targets Program Cybersecurity Portfolio. The independent verification and validation group testing ensures the integrity and compliance of the Missile Defense System Targets Program. These validation activities include the analysis of results from compliance monitoring, risk assessments, and reviews of proposed POA&Ms for the Missile Defense System Targets Program. Activities in the project are necessary to comply with the Federal Information Security Management Act, Department of War (DoW), and Missile Defense Agency (MDA) cybersecurity standards/requirements.

**Named R-3 performers** (share of this project's FY2027 R-3 total, so they need not reach 100%)**:** FIVE STONES RESEARCH (1.4, 73%).

| Activity (R-2A) | FY2025 | FY2026 | FY2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Network / System Certification and Accreditation (C&A) | 1.8 | 2.0 | 1.9 |

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

## Where the FY2027 request goes

| Category | Share | $M |
|---|---|---|
| Industry primes | 29% | 149.3 |
| Government labs & warfare centers | 65% | 339.4 |
| Other / unspecified | 5.7% | 29.8 |

**Top named industry performers:** Northrop Grumman ($87.9M, 17%), Lockheed Martin ($31.0M, 6.0%).

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

## Mission & acquisition strategy

The Missile Defense System Targets Program is an integral part of the Missile Defense System. Although Missile Defense System Targets Program is not a component of the fielded Missile Defense System, it supports all of the Missile Defense System programs across the Missile Defense Agency (MDA). The mission of the Missile Defense System Targets Program is to provide an economical and reliable inventory of targets spanning the parametric threat space. These targets enable demonstration of Missile Defense System capabilities in operationally realistic scenarios. The Missile Defense System Targets Program develops and acquires five target types across four target classes.

The Missile Defense System Targets Program delivers targets and countermeasures for Missile Defense System flight-testing to counter evolving threats. Program requirements are derived from the Missile Defense System Integrated Master Test Plan (IMTP) and from multiple Target System Performance Specifications (TSPS). The Missile Defense System Targets Program is currently in various acquisition and contracting stages to deliver targets and countermeasures per multiple TSPS by target class: SRBM, MRBM, IRBM, and ICBM. Each target class may be independently solicited, evaluated, and competitively awarded based on the IMTP 'need date' priority order. The Targets Program also delivers countermeasures based on requirements and TSPS.

## Related program elements

- [0604258A — Target Systems Development](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0604258A) (Army)
- [0208030F — Operational Weaponeering and Analysis](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0208030F) (Air Force)
- [0604032F — DE Prototyping](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0604032F) (Air Force)
- [0605812A — Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) Engineering and Manufacturing Development Phase (EMD)](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0605812A) (Army)

## Source & machine access

- **Source:** FY2027 Office of the Secretary of Defense RDT&E Budget Justification, Exhibits R-2/R-3, PE 0603915C (PB PB2027); FY2027 NDAA committee marks (as of 2026-07-27).
- **MCP:** `mcp.hitchintel.com` — `budget_get_program_element(pe="0603915C")`.

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