Direct Strike Penetrator Systems
The Direct Strike Penetrator Systems program develops and modifies a family of advanced precision-guided penetrator munitions to include evaluation of integrated technologies for the development/integration of advanced position, navigation, and timing (PNT) capabilities (i.e., Global Positioning System (GPS), non-GPS, optical, passive, active, etc.) and smart fuze systems, and all penetrator components, that will provide the Air Force with improved ability to attack Hard and Deeply Buried Targets (HDBT), such as bunker and tunnel facilities, using air-to-surface conventional munitions. Systems developed include but are not limited to Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP), GBU-72 Advanced 5,000-lb Penetrator Weapon System (A5K), and Section 804 Rapid Prototype/Rapid Fielding activities. Systems developed will be integrated onto current and future platforms to reduce the number of weapons required to hold HDBTs at risk and will result in more targets engaged per mission flown. Direct Strike Penetrators will provide critical global strike capability not met by inventory conventional weapons and will hold at risk the best protected high value assets essential to an enemy's war fighting ability. The project also provides an opportunity to quickly insert emerging technologies into existing and developing aircraft munitions and fuzes. A Hard Target Munitions (HTM) Analysis-of-Alternatives (AoA) was conducted in 2014 to determine the best weapons and/or development efforts for addressing the HDBT mission area. The HTM AoA determined that it was necessary to develop a family of HTMs in order to apply effects to the entire range of HDBT sets. The Air Force is using the AoA to develop, produce and modify HDBT weapons identified as the most effective and affordable. Modeling and simulation is used to assess and characterize current inventory and to drive design and explore the utility of new classes of penetrator munitions. 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. This program leverages digital acquisition tenets of open, agile, and digital.
FY2027 planned work Additional funding was placed in FY 27. We will execute this funding on the NGP Phase 1B and Phase 2 efforts.
FY2026 to FY2027 change Additional funding was placed in FY 27 to execute the NGP Phase 1B Tail Kit and Phase 2 efforts.
FY2026 plans — current year Execute varied validation activities to include: modeling and simulation, test and evaluation, ground test support for subscale sled testing and full-scale static testing.
FY2027 planned work Supporting efforts to MS-34 execution include DTRA support, Instrumentation to capture test data, and M&S and analysis support. Additional efforts include Tail Kit OFP update and Fuze software update.
FY2026 to FY2027 change Decease in in 2027 funding is due to MS-34 construction efforts ramping down
FY2026 plans — current year Efforts to construct MS-34 Target.