# Electronic Warfare Development — Program Element 0604270F

**Program element:** 0604270F  
**Component:** U.S. Air Force  
**Appropriation:** 3600 — RDT&E, Air Force  
**Budget Activity:** 5 — System Development & Demonstration  
**Vintage:** President's Budget PB2027  
**Canonical URL:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/0604270F

## Summary

U.S. Air Force funding ramps 1272% to a $260.2M request in FY2027 — the program's peak, before stepping down 47% across the five-year plan. In the FY2027 defense authorization, the House cut 15% (to $220.2M); the Senate funded it in full; House appropriators cut 23% (to $200.2M).

## Funding profile

| Fiscal Year | Estimate Type | Amount ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | Actual | 13.6 |
| FY2026 | Enacted | 19.0 |
| FY2027 | Request | 260.2 |
| FY2028 | Outyear | 155.6 |
| FY2029 | Outyear | 160.4 |
| FY2030 | Outyear | 134.8 |
| FY2031 | Outyear | 137.5 |

> 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 | 260.2 | — |
| House NDAA (HASC) | 220.2 | −40.0 |
| Senate NDAA (SASC) | 260.2 | +0.0 |
| House Approps (HAC-D) | 200.2 | −60.0 |

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

## Projects (4)

| Project | Title | FY2025 actual | FY2026 enacted | FY2027 request | Move |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 650099 | Cognitive Electronic Warfare | 0.0 | 0.0 | 125.9 | new start |
| 650098 | Electromagnetic Battle Management (EMBM) | 0.0 | 0.0 | 96.1 | new start |
| 653891 | Adv Infrared Counter Measures(Aircm) | 13.6 | 19.0 | 20.2 | +6% |
| 658462 | Airborne Electronic Attack | 0.0 | 0.0 | 18.0 | new start |

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

### Project 650099 — Cognitive Electronic Warfare

Cognitive Electromagnetic Warfare (Cog EW) integrates multiple projects to achieve massed non-kinetic warfare dominance for the DoW Counter Long-Range Kill Chain (C-LRKC) and Counter-Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance, & Reconnaissance (C-C5ISR) constructs. This funding increase adds two new interrelated activities and more expenditures on a current project in order to capture, employ, and exploit EW effectiveness improvements/synergies in contested/congested battlespaces. The Modular Electromagnetic Attack Payloads (MEAP) project will, as part of the overall Cognitive EW Capabilities program, demonstrate and deliver advanced (e.g., using AI, ML, and Cognitive technologies) modularized (defined by size, weight, power/cooling, function, and interface standards) techniques for one (or more) threshold platform s. The intent is to provide an Electromagnetic Attack capability that can be adapted to a number of appropriate platforms to yield a massed non-kinetic fires effect. The Exploitation Application project is the transition of two Air Force Tactical Exploitation of National Capabilities (TENCAP) programs to the operational Air Force. TENCAP increases warfighter effectiveness and promotes cross-domain integration by pursuing multiple small projects then transitioning them via rapid prototyping and capability demonstrations. This project consists of an aiming system to enable a separate firing system designed to effect satellite operations. The Talon LURCHER system will fil key requirement for engaging targets at hypersonic speeds and extended ranges while synchronizing the entire effects chain. The management of these effects must be based on a multi-variable solution that accounts for time, space, range, and velocity relative to the target's specifications. Delivering non-atmospheric effects against targets moving at speeds greater than Mach 20 introduces significant challenges related to data latency. Therefore, this effort will develop and integrate technology specifically designed to alleviate these delays in the track and fire control loop while enabling consistent and accurate delivery of effects to fast-moving, long-range targets, serving as the key technical enabler to properly AIM the weapon system.

| Activity (R-2A) | FY2025 | FY2026 | FY2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Modular Electromagnetic Attack Payloads (MEAP) | — | 0.0 | 4.5 |
| Talon UPCYCLE | — | 0.0 | 51.0 |
| Talon LURCHER | — | 0.0 | 70.4 |

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

### Project 650098 — Electromagnetic Battle Management (EMBM)

The Department of the Air Force (DAF) Electromagnetic Battle Management (EMBM) is an automated family of systems/applications linked by common architectures, standards and data that will expeditiously receive, analyze, display, employ, and securely distribute friendly, neutral, and adversary Electromagnetic Spectrum (EMS) information. DAF EMBM will consist of five component capabilities; the ability to attain, maintain, and monitor the spectrum for EMS Situational Awareness (SA), assessment, and mission planning, decision support with command and control, and training interfaces to all levels of EMS Operations (EMSO). The coordination and synchronization of EMSO will provide real-time Non-Kinetic Fires Orchestration across domains in any range of military operations. DAF EMBM will feed into USSTRATCOM's EMBM-Joint (EMBM-J) at the Combatant Command-level enabling synchronization of Joint Non-Kinetic Fires and enabling resilient decision advantage in contested EM environments. Within the Electronic Warfare (EW) Portfolio, the DAF EMBM program has the greatest reach across the entire force and is closest to operational capability. FY2027 funding will hire personnel and outfit spaces for the EMBM program office for the project. EMBM office will work towards maximum integration and synchronization of multiple programs. The Enterprise-Crowd Sourced Flight Data (E-CSFD) program will ingest leading-edge Electromagnetic data from recording hardware, apply analytic and multi-level security screening, and pass the data back through the long-haul comm links for use by multiple users. The data will inform EW Integrated Reprogramming and intelligence efforts. The Raven Communication system provides Ad-Hoc communications pathways that are dynamic, survivable, and varied in its detectability. Raven will provide Non-Kinetic orchestration and resource management. This program is in Budget Activity 5, System Development and Demonstration (SDD) most of its elements have passed Milestone B, it's equivalent, or there is enough evidence that there is low risk in pursuing SDD type activities in pursuit of engineering and manufacturing development tasks aimed at meeting validated requirements prior to full rate production

| Activity (R-2A) | FY2025 | FY2026 | FY2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| EMBM Integration | — | 0.0 | 5.5 |
| Enterprise Crowd Sourced Flight Data (E-CSFD) | — | 0.0 | 26.6 |
| RAVEN Ad-Hoc Comms | — | 0.0 | 64.0 |

> 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 653891 — Adv Infrared Counter Measures(Aircm)

"The Advanced Infrared Countermeasure (AIRCM) project improves aircraft self-protection against the increasing threat of sophisticated surface-to-air and air-to-air missiles. Countermeasure improvements are the result of multiple related activities. First, enhanced understanding of advanced threats derived from intelligence and Threat Acquisition and Exploitation. Countermeasure Modeling and Simulation creates updated threat models, countermeasure models, and aircraft models. Modeling and Simulation is then used to digitally evaluate new techniques and products for improved effectiveness against current and emerging threat systems. Countermeasure Development yields new devices and capabilities aimed to defeat advanced threats. Countermeasure Testing collects data for updated digital models as well as tests devices and techniques to determine effectiveness. The project also provides for modernization and enhancement of tools and capabilities needed to perform Threat Acquisition and Exploitation, Countermeasure Modeling and Simulation, Countermeasure Development, and Countermeasure Testing. The project also evaluates novel countermeasure devices and techniques for potential significant capability gains against threats." The Electronic Warfare Avionics Integration Support Facility (EWAISF) has the Operational, Safety, Suitability, and Effectiveness (OSS&E) responsibility for USAF Avionics and EW Systems. They are also the sustainment reprogramming center (RC) for EWIR process charged with the following: Test/Check EW System Operational Flight Programs (OFPs), supporting MAJCOM mission data RC with reprogramming tools, and total EW system testing to ensure mission capability. this is accomplished by replicating the Electromagnetic Spectrum (EMS) environment for Hardware-in-the-loop (HITL) laboratory testing. This testing validates previous open-air test & evaluation of modified EW systems via internal test, evaluation, assessment, and characterization capability representing current and emerging adversary systems to include network centric capabilities.

| Activity (R-2A) | FY2025 | FY2026 | FY2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Threat Acquisition & Exploitation | 1.9 | 2.0 | 3.0 |
| Countermeasure Development | 4.1 | 3.6 | 3.1 |
| Countermeasure Testing | 0.6 | 6.4 | 7.1 |
| Countermeasure Modeling and Simulation | 1.6 | 2.0 | 2.0 |
| Electromagnetic Battle Management (EMBM) | 2.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Cognitive Electromagnetic Warfare (EW) | 2.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Electronic Warfare Avionics Integration Support Facility (EWAISF) | 0.0 | 0.0 | 5.0 |

> 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 658462 — Airborne Electronic Attack

The Multi-Modal Delivery Capability project will operationalize the nascent High Altitude Balloon (HAB) program and deliver immediate operational missions. Operational employment of HAB systems requires a hybrid approach with different but complimentary systems. This program will focus on low-cost, attritable tactical swarming platforms for rapid employment when limited indicators and warnings. This program element may include necessary civilian pay 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 element 00605827F, 0605828F, 0605829F, 0605831F, 0605832F, 0605833F, 0605898F, 0606398F. This program is in Budget Activity 5, System Development and Demonstration (SDD) most of its elements have passed Milestone B, it's equivalent, or there is enough evidence that there is low risk in pursuing SDD type activities in pursuit of engineering and manufacturing development tasks aimed at meeting validated requirements prior to full rate production

| Activity (R-2A) | FY2025 | FY2026 | FY2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Multi-Modal Delivery Capability | — | 0.0 | 18.0 |

> 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Government labs & warfare centers | 0.4% | 0.9 |
| Other / unspecified | 100% | 259.3 |

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

## Mission & acquisition strategy

Cognitive Electromagnetic Warfare (Cog EW) integrates multiple projects to achieve massed non-kinetic warfare dominance for the DoW Counter Long-Range Kill Chain (C-LRKC) and Counter-Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance, & Reconnaissance (C-C5ISR) constructs. This funding increase adds two new interrelated activities and more expenditures on a current project in order to capture, employ, and exploit EW effectiveness improvements/synergies in contested/congested battlespaces.

Various acquisition approaches will be used. Government organic capabilities will be utilized to the greatest practical extent to include threat acquisition and exploitation, modeling and simulation, testing, and development work. Portions of the program will be executed via Other Transactional Authorities which facilitate collaborative Government, Industry, and Academic ordnance technology development and prototyping initiatives. Funds will be used to provide acquisition program office manpower, contract support, or other expenses. Initial plans leverage existing efforts and their existing contract mechanism continuing and/or expanding the scope of work to meet Advanced EW Capability needs.

## Related program elements

- [0207039F — Cognitive Electronic Warfare](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0207039F) (Air Force)
- [0207407F — Electromagnetic Battle Management (EMBM)](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0207407F) (Air Force)
- [0604808A — Landmine Warfare/Barrier - Eng Dev](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0604808A) (Army)
- [0602146A — Network C3I Technology](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0602146A) (Army)

## Source & machine access

- **Source:** FY2027 Department of the Air Force RDT&E Budget Justification, Exhibits R-2/R-3, PE 0604270F (PB PB2027); FY2027 NDAA committee marks (as of 2026-07-27).
- **MCP:** `mcp.hitchintel.com` — `budget_get_program_element(pe="0604270F")`.

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