# NIFC From the Air (FTA) Capabilities Effectiveness and Integration

**R-2A activity** of project 3242 — NIFC-CA Supported by Airborne Platforms  
**Program element:** 0604378N — Nav Integrated Fire Control - Counter Air Sys E  
**Component:** U.S. Navy · **Budget Activity:** 5  
**Vintage:** President's Budget PB2027  
**Canonical URL:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/0604378N/3242/a0  
**Parent:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/0604378N/3242

## Summary

This activity requests $12.0M in FY2027, 100% of project 3242, up 9.1% on FY2026. The R-2A exhibit describes it across FY2026–FY2027, including what the FY2027 money is planned to buy.

## What the FY2027 request buys

**FY2027 planned work.** Reviewing Naval Aviation Enterprise (NAE) Integrated Capability Framework with Airwing of the Future 2027 to actuals. Decomposing SoS requirements into Model Based Systems Engineering products and NIFC Measures of Effectiveness and Measure of Performance to pillar programs. NIFC FTA SoS verification and validation testing of F/A-18 CIDD, F-35 integration, and E-2D DSSC upgrade with increased capabilities of USN air launched Air-to-Air and Air-to-Surface weapons, integration of tactical data link enhancements and Long Range Fires. Evaluate and assess Naval Integrated Fire Control Next (NIFCA-Next) interoperability and performance across air platforms and weapons by the utilization of federated labs; Live Virtual Construction (LVC). These labs will utilize a combination of LVC capabilities to identify issues and provide recommendations for corrections. Development of Mission Assessment Report (MAR) and RTVMs to provide definition to Developmental Test and Operational Test within the individual platforms. Continued alignment of digital thread of architectures, and Design Reference Missions (DRMs) to inform architecture development and system definition of the primary Carrier Air Wing effects chains for priority missions including Long Range Fires and capabilities enabling Long Range Fires. Execute performance assessments, interoperability risk reduction for advanced Integrated Fire Control (IFC), and employment recommendations across the NIFC pillar programs to maximize effectiveness when introduced to the Fleet. Continue to work with CNAF on developing the classified Master Aviation Plan.

**FY2026 to FY2027 change.** $1.008M increase in FY27 will result in additional capability to the digital thread architectures for the Integrated Warfighter Capability Framework and increase in the number of updates to the System of System models.

## Before the request year

**FY2026 plans — current year.** Continue NIFC FTA System of Systems (SoS) verification and validation testing of F/A-18 CIDD, F-35 integration, and E-2D DSSC 5 with increased capabilities of USN air launched Air-to-Air and Air-to-Surface weapons, integration of tactical data link enhancements and Long Range Fires. Evaluate and assess Advance Integrated Fire Control (AIFC) interoperability and performance across air platforms and weapons by the utilization of federated labs; Live Virtual Construction (LVC). These labs will utilize a combination of LVC capabilities to identify issues and provide recommendations for corrections. Development of Mission Assessment Report (MAR) and RTVMs to provide definition to Developmental Test and Operational Test within the individual platforms. Development of digital thread of architectures, Integrated Technical Capability Baselines (ICTBs), and Design Reference Missions (DRMs) to inform architecture development and system definition of the primary Carrier Air Wing effects chains for priority missions including Long Range Fires and capabilities enabling Long Range Fires. Execute performance assessments, interoperability risk reduction for advanced Integrated Fire Control (IFC), and employment recommendations across the NIFC pillar programs to maximize effectiveness when introduced to the Fleet. Continue to work with CNAF on developing the classified Master Aviation Plan.

## Funding

| Fiscal Year | Estimate Type | Amount ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | Actual | 12.2 |
| FY2026 | Enacted | 11.0 |
| FY2027 | Request | 12.0 |

> Prior, current and budget year only — an R-2A activity carries no five-year plan. It sums exactly into its project in the request year and not necessarily in any other.

## Source & machine access

- **Source:** FY2027 Department of the Navy RDT&E Budget Justification, Exhibit R-2A, PE 0604378N project 3242 (PB PB2027). Narrative is the government's own text.
- **No marks, no contractors at this grain** — congressional marks land on the program element and R-3 performers on the project.
- **MCP:** `mcp.hitchintel.com` — `budget_get_activity`.

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