# Tactical Data Networks Enterprise — Program Element 0604281F

**Program element:** 0604281F  
**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/0604281F

## Summary

U.S. Air Force funding ramps 44% to a $110.2M request 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. 46th Test Squadron leads the industry work.

## Funding profile

| Fiscal Year | Estimate Type | Amount ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | Actual | 76.2 |
| FY2026 | Enacted | 76.4 |
| FY2027 | Request | 110.2 |
| FY2028 | Outyear | 106.7 |
| FY2029 | Outyear | 108.3 |
| FY2030 | Outyear | 110.0 |
| FY2031 | Outyear | 111.5 |

> 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 | 110.2 | — |
| House NDAA (HASC) | 110.2 | +0.0 |
| Senate NDAA (SASC) | 110.2 | +0.0 |
| House Approps (HAC-D) | 110.2 | +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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 655050 | TDL System Integration | 76.2 | 76.4 | 110.2 | +44% |

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

### Project 655050 — TDL System Integration

The Tactical Data Networks Enterprise (TDNE) program element analyzes and evaluates requirements, designs, develops, enhances, and fields prospective or needed systems. The TDNE focuses on the research, analysis, design, development, test, evaluation and fielding or other capability development of tactical datalinks (TDLs), gateway, radio, multi-function processor, antenna, multi-function aperture, license, waveform and other associated equipment, technology or capabilities. TDNE develops, enhances and fields technologies, architectures, documentation, tactics, techniques, procedures and capabilities. These efforts enhance Air Force communications capacity, efficiency, affordability, integration and optimization. TDNE supports interoperability of Air Force to: Air Force, Joint, Coalition, and NATO (Allied), and other partner platforms and systems; supports releasability engineering, cyber engineering, digital engineering, encryption and safety compliance, et al. Tactical Data Links (TDL) System Integration provides for the study, analysis, enhancement, development, integration, demonstration, joint/coalition/NATO interoperability exercises, costing, test, trials, and evaluation of TDL as a subset of the broader aerial layer network. Products include interoperability standards and reports, waveform standards, and hardware/software technical solutions. The number of Air Force platforms hosting TDLs has expanded from C2 aircraft to the fighter, bomber, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR), tanker, airlift and other tactical fleets as well as precision guided munitions. Utilization of TDLs in joint and international environments requires the integration of terminals into host platforms and interoperability of TDL networks across all deployed joint/Coalition/NATO platforms. USAF mandates require additional studies and analysis to meet frequency reprogramming and cryptographic requirements.

**Named R-3 performers** (share of this project's FY2027 R-3 total, so they need not reach 100%)**:** 46th Test Squadron (1.6, 1.5%).

| Activity (R-2A) | FY2025 | FY2026 | FY2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Common Tactical Edge Network (CTEN) | 44.5 | 41.8 | 24.2 |
| MBeam | 0.0 | 0.0 | 50.8 |
| Link 22 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 7.7 |
| Tactical Data Links and Gateways (TDL&G) Integration | 26.0 | 28.5 | 22.2 |
| Second Generation Anti-Jam Tactical UHF Radio for NATO (SATURN) | 5.7 | 6.1 | 5.2 |

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

## Where the FY2027 request goes

| Category | Share | $M |
|---|---|---|
| Industry primes | 1.5% | 1.6 |
| Government labs & warfare centers | 0.7% | 0.8 |
| Other / unspecified | 98% | 107.8 |

**Top named industry performers:** .

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

## Mission & acquisition strategy

Air Force operations rely on secure communications capability for Command-and-Control messages, threat messages, target updates, etc. Adversaries continually attempt to detect, intercept, decrypt, defeat, disrupt, deny or degrade these communications capabilities--driving the Air Force to continuously upgrade its systems with enhanced encryption, increased technology for low probability of detection (LPD), low probability of interception (LPI), anti-jamming (AJ), increased security and performance engineering, and enhanced throughput and interoperability.

The Airborne Networking Directorate provides for common development, integration, and interoperability across the entire airborne network and ensures that data links are procured and maintained as a joint, end-to-end command and control system. A key tenet of Tactical Data networks Enterprise (TDNE) is the cooperative involvement of operators and acquisition stakeholders throughout the requirements, development, production, and fielding processes. Platform acquisition strategies vary by program, but the majority of development and integration is normally accomplished by the weapon system prime contractor. Most TDNE efforts leverage the Data Link Enterprise, or DLE, contract.

## Related program elements

- [0207448F — E-7](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0207448F) (Air Force)
- [1206761SF — Protected Tactical Service (PTS)](https://hitchintel.com/programs/1206761SF) (Space Force)
- [0303140F — Information Systems Security Program](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0303140F) (Air Force)
- [0303142A — SATCOM Ground Environment (SPACE)](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0303142A) (Army)

## Source & machine access

- **Source:** FY2027 Department of the Air Force RDT&E Budget Justification, Exhibits R-2/R-3, PE 0604281F (PB PB2027); FY2027 NDAA committee marks (as of 2026-07-27).
- **MCP:** `mcp.hitchintel.com` — `budget_get_program_element(pe="0604281F")`.

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