# NC3 Advanced Concepts — Program Element 0604001F

**Program element:** 0604001F  
**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/0604001F

## Summary

U.S. Air Force funding ramps 34% to a $14.4M request in FY2027, before stepping down 47% 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.

## Funding profile

| Fiscal Year | Estimate Type | Amount ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | Actual | 5.3 |
| FY2026 | Enacted | 10.8 |
| FY2027 | Request | 14.4 |
| FY2028 | Outyear | 15.2 |
| FY2029 | Outyear | 7.3 |
| FY2030 | Outyear | 7.5 |
| FY2031 | Outyear | 7.6 |

> 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 | 14.4 | — |
| House NDAA (HASC) | 14.4 | +0.0 |
| Senate NDAA (SASC) | 14.4 | +0.0 |
| House Approps (HAC-D) | 14.4 | +0.0 |

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

## Projects (1)

| Project | Title | FY2025 actual | FY2026 enacted | FY2027 request | Move |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 646020 | NC3 Advanced Concepts | 5.3 | 10.8 | 14.4 | +34% |

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

### Project 646020 — NC3 Advanced Concepts

Nuclear Command, Control, and Communications (NC3) Advanced Concepts are required for analysis, development and prototyping of next generation NC3 systems and subsystems. This program ensures a responsive design and development engineering infrastructure to address evolving Nuclear Deterrence Operations (NDO) mission requirements; emerging issues and technology insertion/technology application on the NC3 Weapon System (WS), future strategic systems/capability, and other common strategic areas where appropriate; and develop enhanced multi-use capabilities. The NC3 Advanced Concepts Program will provide technology maturation and risk reduction activities to support the AF NC3 Weapon System (AN/USQ-225). Activity will reduce life cycle costs, inform technology maturation & risk reduction efforts, improve system performance, mitigate evolving threats, and ensure both viability and durability of the AF NC3 Weapon System. "NC3 Prototypes & Demonstrations” will focus on the development and operational evaluation of emerging capabilities. This area will 1) create functional prototypes of technologies and system concepts to assess their utility and technical feasibility, 2) conduct a series of demonstrations and experiments in operationally relevant environments to validate performance, and 3) leverage comprehensive methodology to respond to changing warfighter needs to inform requirement refinement. The objective is to reduce technical risk, accelerate the learning process, and provide tangible evidence to guide formal acquisition and integration decisions. "NC3 Technology Insertion & Transition” will bridge the gap between mature prototypes and their integration into operational programs of record. Key activities include 1) identifying and maturing promising technologies from prototypes, laboratory environments, and industry, 2) developing transition plans and strategies in collaboration with NC3 programs or other stakeholders to ensure successful handoffs, and 3) providing advice on the integration of these new capabilities into the existing NC3 architecture and sustainment planning. This ensures that successful innovations are effectively scaled and delivered to programs, reducing life cycle costs, and providing mature technologies. Additional details can be provided at a higher classification.

| Activity (R-2A) | FY2025 | FY2026 | FY2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| NC3 Advanced Concepts | 5.3 | 10.8 | 14.4 |

> 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Other / unspecified | 100% | 14.4 |

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

## Mission & acquisition strategy

Nuclear Command, Control, and Communications (NC3) Advanced Concepts are required for analysis, development and prototyping of next generation NC3 systems and subsystems. This program ensures a responsive design and development engineering infrastructure to address evolving Nuclear Deterrence Operations (NDO) mission requirements; emerging issues and technology insertion/technology application on the NC3 Weapon System (WS), future strategic systems/capability, and other common strategic areas where appropriate; and develop enhanced multi-use capabilities.

To conduct NC3 Advanced Concepts essential activities, a combination of competitively awarded contracts, sole source contracts, streamlined Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) solicitations and/or other transaction authority, may be used to augment Air Force organic capabilities with technical skill sets from Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs), research laboratories, University-Affiliated Research Centers (UARCs), and industry Advisory and Assistance Services (A&AS) providers. All NC3 Advanced Concepts activities will be evaluated for promising technologies and considered for tech transition into the Air Force NC3 Weapon System.

## Related program elements

- [0603553N — Surface ASW](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0603553N) (Navy)
- [0604682D8Z — Support for Strategic Analysis](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0604682D8Z) (Defense-Wide)
- [0604181C — Hypersonic Defense](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0604181C) (Defense-Wide)
- [0603851F — Intercontinental Ballistic Missile - Dem/Val](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0603851F) (Air Force)

## Source & machine access

- **Source:** FY2027 Department of the Air Force RDT&E Budget Justification, Exhibits R-2/R-3, PE 0604001F (PB PB2027); FY2027 NDAA committee marks (as of 2026-07-27).
- **MCP:** `mcp.hitchintel.com` — `budget_get_program_element(pe="0604001F")`.

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