# Wide Area Surveillance — Program Element 0604445F

**Program element:** 0604445F  
**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/0604445F

## Summary

U.S. Air Force requests $0.0M in FY2027.

## Funding profile

| Fiscal Year | Estimate Type | Amount ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | Actual | 20.7 |
| FY2026 | Enacted | 0.0 |
| FY2027 | Request | 0.0 |
| FY2028 | Outyear | 0.0 |
| FY2029 | Outyear | 0.0 |
| FY2030 | Outyear | 0.0 |
| FY2031 | Outyear | 0.0 |

> Estimate types are not summed — the profile mixes actuals, enacted law, the request, and outyear projections.

## Projects (1)

| Project | Title | FY2025 actual | FY2026 enacted | FY2027 request | Move |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 675899 | Wide Area Surveillance | 20.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — |

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

### Project 675899 — Wide Area Surveillance

Wide Area Surveillance (WAS) consists of three complementary advanced sensor systems, the Stateside Affordable Radar System (STARS), Scorpion, and Affordable Long Range Persistent Systems (ALPS). Based on existing technological capabilities, WAS detects/tracks low, slow and other asymmetrical threats in the airspace and meets the user needs by sensing stressing airborne targets in complex environments with affordable sensors. The sensor outputs are incorporated into the Battle Control Systems-Fixed (BCS-F) air picture and utilized as the North American Aerospace Defense Command/ Northern Command (NORAD/NORTHCOM) Command and Control (C2) air surveillance system of record. 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.

| Activity (R-2A) | FY2025 | FY2026 | FY2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| STARS (S1) Block 2 Modernization and Scorpion (S2) testing | 20.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 |

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

## Mission & acquisition strategy

Wide Area Surveillance (WAS) consists of three advanced sensor systems, the Stateside Affordable Radar System (STARS), Scorpion, and Affordable Long Range Persistent Systems (ALPS). Based on existing technological capabilities, WAS detects/tracks low, slow and other asymmetrical threats in the airspace and meets the user needs by sensing airborne targets in complex environments with affordable sensors. The sensor outputs will be incorporated into the Battle Control Systems-Fixed (BCS-F) air picture and utilized as the North American Aerospace Defense Command/ Northern Command (NORAD/NORTHCOM) Command and Control (C2) air surveillance system of record.

The Wide Area Surveillance (WAS) strategy is a single step acquisition approach for full capability to develop, produce, and field highly capable and sustainable advanced sensors in the National Capital Region. Science & technology contracts were let prior to the Engineering and Manufacturing Development phase for both subsystems. The Cost Plus Fixed-Fee (CPFF) contract for Stateside Affordable Radar System (STARS) was awarded to a single developer to design, build, integrate, and test the STARS system. A subsequent task order was awarded (July 2017) to include pre-operational site support.

## Related program elements

- [0102326F — R/SAOC Modernization](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0102326F) (Air Force)
- [0604604F — Joint Smart Munitions Test and Evaluation](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0604604F) (Air Force)
- [0603044A — Soldier Advanced Technology](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0603044A) (Army)
- [0903235K — Joint Service Provider](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0903235K) (Defense-Wide)

## Source & machine access

- **Source:** FY2027 Department of the Air Force RDT&E Budget Justification, Exhibits R-2/R-3, PE 0604445F (PB PB2027).
- **MCP:** `mcp.hitchintel.com` — `budget_get_program_element(pe="0604445F")`.

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