# Project 676035 — T-6 Operational System Development

**Program element:** 0604233F — Specialized Undergraduate Flight Training  
**Project:** 676035  
**Component:** U.S. Air Force  
**Appropriation:** 3600 — RDT&E, Air Force  
**Budget Activity:** 7 — Operational System Development  
**Vintage:** President's Budget PB2027  
**Canonical URL:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/0604233F/676035  
**Parent:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/0604233F

## Summary

Project 676035 — T-6 Operational System Development requests $19.1M in FY2027, 86% of the $22.1M requested for program element 0604233F, down 64% on FY2026. 2 R-2A activities decompose the request.

## Funding profile

| Fiscal Year | Estimate Type | Amount ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | Actual | 28.1 |
| FY2026 | Enacted | 53.4 |
| FY2027 | Request | 19.1 |
| FY2028 | Outyear | 0.0 |
| FY2029 | Outyear | 2.0 |
| FY2030 | Outyear | 2.1 |
| FY2031 | Outyear | 2.1 |

> Estimate types are not summed. This project is one leaf of PE 0604233F; the PE total is the sum of its projects, never added to them.

## What project 676035 buys

T-6 Operational System Development program provides follow-on development activities to Joint Primary Aircraft Training System (JPATS) including but not limited to studies and development efforts, instructional courseware, and logistics support to include Diminishing Manufacturing Sources (DMS) and development activities related to DMS. Included in this effort is the Avionics Replacement Program (ARP). Current T-6A avionics are comprised of analog and 1st generation digital components which are increasingly impacted by Diminishing Manufacturing Sources and Material Shortages (DMSMS) resulting in reduced Aircraft Availability (AA) and increased life-cycle sustainment costs. No less than 23 components are impacted by DMSMS and will be replaced by ARP to improve reliability, availability, and reduce system sustainment costs. The ARP addresses DMSMS issues, current T-6A FAA compliance issues, and fulfills outstanding safety recommendations. The solution will be incorporated into 405 AETC T-6A aircraft and 86 Ground Based Trainers. Funding provides for this effort directly aids Air Education Training Command (AETC) flying training enterprise and increases overall pilot production to reduce USAF pilot shortage. This program element included all necessary expenses required to manage, execute, and deliver weapon system capability. The use of such program funds would be in addition to the civilian pay expenses budgeted in program elements 0605829F, 0605831F, 0605833F, and 0605898F.

**R-3 lines of work:** Product Development; Support; Test and Evaluation; Management Services.

## Activities (R-2A) — 2

| Activity | FY2025 | FY2026 | FY2027 | Move | Page |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T-6 Avionics Modernization (Avionics Replacement Program) | 27.9 | 53.3 | 18.9 | −64% | — |
| T-6A JPATS Studies and Analysis | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | +0% | — |

> Activities carry the prior, current and budget year only — no five-year plan. In the request year they partition this project exactly; in earlier years they can under-cover it.

### T-6 Avionics Modernization (Avionics Replacement Program)

**FY2027 planned work.** Test and evaluation activities of instrument panel integration and other avionics suite engineering efforts.

**FY2026 to FY2027 change.** Funding decreased due to anticipated completion of ARP developmental activities prior to procurement efforts.

**FY2026 plans — current year.** Continued developmental activities for instrument panel integration and other avionics suite engineering efforts to address Diminishing Manufacturing Sources and Material Shortages (DMSMS) issues, current T-6A FAA compliance issues and fulfill outstanding safety recommendations.

### T-6A JPATS Studies and Analysis

**FY2027 planned work.** Continue studies, analysis and developmental activities including but not limited to the development and testing of prototypes critical to enhancing modification efforts for the aircraft.

**FY2026 plans — current year.** Continue studies, analysis and developmental activities including but not limited to the development and testing of prototypes critical to enhancing modification efforts for the aircraft.

## What is NOT on this page

Congressional marks, the R-2 mission description and acquisition strategy, the industry vs government split of the whole request, and related program elements are recorded at **program-element** grain — an NDAA mark lands on a PE, never on a project. They are at https://hitchintel.com/programs/0604233F.

## Source & machine access

- **Source:** FY2027 Department of the Air Force RDT&E Budget Justification, Exhibits R-2/R-2A/R-3, PE 0604233F project 676035 (PB PB2027).
- **MCP:** `mcp.hitchintel.com` — `budget_get_program_element(pe="0604233F")`.

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