Requirements Analysis & Concept Maturation

This Project performs core Planning for Development activities, maturing candidate concepts derived from USAF Force Design and Department of War (DoW) priorities to accelerate acquisition timelines, reduce technology risks, demonstrate integration, and deliver potential solutions to address warfighting needs. Key activities include Capability Based Assessments (CBA), analytic refinement studies similar to Analysis of Alternatives (AoA), and other pre-Milestone A planning to determine operational viability and prepare for transition to a Program of Record (PoR), often before a program office is established. It utilizes modern digital tools and methodologies to create a data-driven decision space for concepts not yet mature enough for formal acquisition decisions. These efforts produce technical descriptions that include open systems architectures, industrial base analysis, and initial product support plans to enable future acquisition, testing, and training. The goal is to deliver high-confidence initial designs, performance estimations, and risk identification in coordination with Department of the Air Force (DAF) priorities within a multi-level security structure. It supports the development of single-domain, multi-domain, and system-of-systems solutions. This may include developing contracting structures to foster a competitive industrial base. This Project includes execution on a broad-scope weaponeering analysis effort, "Ensemble Analysis”, of layered and sequenced weapons effects to inform, shape, and guide counter-HDBT employment and acquisition decisions, as well as any follow-on analysis efforts. Program management support costs including, but not limited to, hardware, software, travel, contractor support services, civilian pay, supplies, facilities, and infrastructure. 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 requirement supports performance of a full financial audit as required by title 10 U.S.C. Chapter 9A, Sec 240-D.

This Project previously focused specifically on refinement and maturation of candidate concepts derived from the Force Design and Capability Development Executive Officer (CDEO) priorities to inform Planning for Development decisions. These maturation activities accelerate acquisition timelines, reduce technology risks, demonstrate integration and delivers potential solutions to address warfighting needs. Use of modern digital tools and methodologies render quality data-driven decision space. Results from these activities inform or refine concepts that are not mature enough for acquisition decisions to determine operational viability and/or progress to further Planning for Development. Starting in FY 2025 this Project will no longer be used, realigning these activities under Project 640011 to improve efficiency and prevent duplication of work. This realignment ensures all efforts are properly managed within a unified capability development framework. This program element may include necessary civilian pay expenses required to manage, execute, and deliver capabilities. The use of such program's funds would be in addition to the civilian pay expenses budgeted in program element 0605829F, 0605831F, 0605833F, 0605898F.

This Project conducts an Office of the Secretary of War (OSW)-directed, Air Force-led effort addressing the Hard and Deeply Buried Targets (HDBT) problem set and recommendations in the National HDBT Strategy. A broad-scope weaponeering analysis and concept refinement effort to develop a threat-informed, technically rigorous, and disciplined understanding of how current and emerging strike capabilities can be combined effectively to engage sophisticated underground military complexes, as reported by the Intelligence Community. Informs Department of War (DoW)-wide intelligence, operational, and acquisition decision space to enable a full spectrum counter-HDBT kill chain, expanding the range of options to hold the most difficult HDBTs at risk. The data and analysis generated may be used in a future Analysis of Alternatives (AoA). Evaluation of the current munition inventory baseline as well as near-term acquisitions will also drive focused S&T demand signals for desired attributes that will be captured and distributed via appropriate channels. These funds may cover, but are not limited to, hardware, software, travel, personnel and other costs needed to accomplish the mission. This also includes program support and operational support costs necessary to further the program up until the standup of a PoR. This program element may include necessary civilian pay expenses required to manage, execute, and deliver HDBT capabilities. The use of such program's funds would be in addition to the civilian pay expenses budgeted in program element 0605829F, 0605831F, 0605833F, or 0605898F.