# Project EK9 — TACTICAL NETWORK OPERATIONS AND MANAGEMENT

**Program element:** 0604818A — Army Tactical Command & Control Hardware & Software  
**Project:** EK9  
**Component:** U.S. Army  
**Appropriation:** 2040 — RDT&E, Army  
**Budget Activity:** 5 — System Development & Demonstration  
**Vintage:** President's Budget PB2027  
**Canonical URL:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/0604818A/EK9  
**Parent:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/0604818A

## Summary

Project EK9 — TACTICAL NETWORK OPERATIONS AND MANAGEMENT requests — in FY2027, 0.0% of the $42.6M requested for program element 0604818A, down 100% on FY2026. 7 R-2A activities decompose the request.

## Funding profile

| Fiscal Year | Estimate Type | Amount ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | Actual | 59.7 |
| FY2026 | Enacted | 200.4 |

> Estimate types are not summed. This project is one leaf of PE 0604818A; the PE total is the sum of its projects, never added to them.

## What project EK9 buys

This funding line supports the NGC2 initiative to modernize C2 systems. NGC2 is one of the Army's highest modernization priorities and will enhance the ability to conduct multi-domain operations by integrating advanced technologies, improving interoperability, and increasing the speed and accuracy of decision-making processes. This funding line specifically supports the Applications Layer efforts within NGC2. The Applications Layer supports the delivery of warfighting function (WfF) applications and Unified Network Operations. WfF applications (e.g. Command and Control, Information Advantage, Movement and Maneuver, Intelligence, Fires, Protection, Sustainment and Network Operations) will be delivered to the specifications defined by the Data Layer (Project EJ6). Project EK9 also consolidates and further refines Network Operations (NetOps) tools that are key to enabling applications in a data-centric network with increased efficiency in overall network management. Warfighting function applications will operate in conjunction with the Data Layer to provide seamless mission command from the enterprise to the tactical edge, leveraging cutting edge available commercial technologies. This unified approach will dramatically improve the user experience for warfighters, enabling faster decision-making and ultimately increasing lethality.

**R-3 lines of work:** Management Services; Product Development; Support; Test and Evaluation.

## Activities (R-2A) — 7

| Activity | FY2025 | FY2026 | FY2027 | Move | Page |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C2 Applications Continuous Integration and Continuous Delivery (CI/CD) | — | 175.4 | — | −100% | — |
| C2 Applications Test/Evaluation/Validation/Verification (TEVV) | — | 12.9 | — | −100% | — |
| C2 Applications Program Management | — | 12.1 | — | −100% | — |
| UNO Product Development | 47.6 | — | — | — | — |
| UNO Training Development | 1.3 | — | — | — | — |
| UNO Test & Evaluation | 7.7 | — | — | — | — |
| UNO Management Services | 3.2 | — | — | — | — |

> Activities carry the prior, current and budget year only — no five-year plan. In the request year they partition this project exactly; in earlier years they can under-cover it.

### C2 Applications Continuous Integration and Continuous Delivery (CI/CD)

**FY2026 to FY2027 change.** Decrease due to funding realignment to PE 0605331A / C2 Applications, Projects C2C and C2D, in support of Army-prioritized Next Generation Command and Control Application Layer efforts under a new funding structure.

**FY2026 plans — current year.** Funding will be used to deliver a modernized C2 Applications Layer that includes critical warfighting function (WfF) applications. Continuous competition via future Commercial Solutions Openings (CSO) will onboard new technologies through integration of innovative and iterative capabilities while maintaining momentum from the Project Convergence Capstone 5 exercise, with a division-scaled prototype capability to be demonstrated at Project Convergence Capstone 6 in FY 2026. Efforts include transition and integration of existing mission command system efforts into new NGC2 capabilities.

### C2 Applications Test/Evaluation/Validation/Verification (TEVV)

**FY2026 to FY2027 change.** Decrease due to funding realignment to PE 0605331A / C2 Applications, Projects C2C and C2D, in support of Army-prioritized Next Generation Command and Control Application Layer efforts under a new funding structure.

**FY2026 plans — current year.** Ramp up testing processes and capabilities and execute a variety of TEVV activities, including Logistics, Limited User Assessment(s), Cyber Tabletop Exercise (CTTX), Cybersecurity Vulnerability Assessment (CVA), Adversarial Cybersecurity Developmental Test (ACDT), Cooperative Vulnerability and Penetration Test (CVPA), and After Actions.

### C2 Applications Program Management

**FY2026 to FY2027 change.** Decrease due to funding realignment to PE 0605331A / C2 Applications, Projects C2C and C2D, in support of Army-prioritized Next Generation Command and Control Application Layer efforts under a new funding structure.

**FY2026 plans — current year.** Funds personnel labor to support program management and execution for the C2 Applications Layer, including facilitation of continuous competition via future Commercial Solutions Openings (CSO). Includes assessment of cybersecurity compliance, research, program oversight, risk management and documentation.

### UNO Product Development

**FY2025 accomplishments.** Product Development funds the competitive prototype development of Unified Network Operations (UNO) solutions. Prototype development of Lower-Tier Tactical (LTT) and Upper-Tier Tactical (UTT) capabilities serve as the foundational components of UNO including a Simplified User Interface (SUI), open network architectures, Application Program Interfaces (APIs) that enable access to core NetOps tools (e.g., planning, management, monitoring, security), core NetOps tools, operations and maintenance functions which enable plan/design, model and simulation, install, operate, maintain, sustain, and security of the network for tactical users. These capabilities are intended to be interoperable and integrated with future UNO components and support NetOps across the tactical network (e.g., tactical radios and waveforms, transmission systems and components, deployed nodes, network devices, and software). Prototype development of Tactical Identity, Credential, and Access Management (T-ICAM) capabilities will deliver Identity Provider (IdP) services, Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), and automated provisioning/deprovisioning of access control leveraging identity attributes from Army Master Identity Directory (AMID) (e.g., Attribute Based Access Control)). These capabilities enable the use of multiple methods of authentication (e.g., Fast Identity Online 2 (FIDO2), MFA, etc.) and Active Directory (AD); multiple factors to verify Soldier identity (e.g., physical tokens, personal identification numbers (PIN), biometrics templates); and dynamic access control. These capabilities will demonstrate the ability to leverage industry standard protocols to provide ICAM services at the point of need in DDIL environments and enables the tactical environment to meet the DoD and Army Zero Trust requirements.

### UNO Training Development

**FY2025 accomplishments.** Training Development funds will provide for development of training materials in FY 2025 to support UNO IS-ICD requirements. Training development will support the iterative software development process and Development, Security, Operations (DevSecOps) activities, including Soldier Touch Points (STPs) and Operational User Assessments (OUAs) throughout the development cycle.

### UNO Test & Evaluation

**FY2025 accomplishments.** Test & Evaluation funds will provide for the continuous integration, test, and evaluation of UNO capabilities, acquiring the necessary certifications to operate UNO capabilities across Army networks and Department of Defense Information Networks (DODIN) operations, and will ensure UNO capabilities are integrated and interoperable across the Army's Unified Network. This includes the Office of the Director, Operational Test and Evaluation (DOT&E) and Army Test and Evaluation Center (ATEC) support, test lab and equipment (hardware / software), continuous developmental test activities, operational Soldier Touch Points (STPs) / Operational User Assessments (OUAs), cybersecurity and penetration testing during STPs / OUAs, testing range coordination, network configuration, and test documentation.

### UNO Management Services

**FY2025 accomplishments.** Management Services funds will provide for Program Management Office (PMO) support activities to the Unified Network Operations (UNO) program, to include contracts management, logistical support, program and business management functions.

## What is NOT on this page

Congressional marks, the R-2 mission description and acquisition strategy, the industry vs government split of the whole request, and related program elements are recorded at **program-element** grain — an NDAA mark lands on a PE, never on a project. They are at https://hitchintel.com/programs/0604818A.

## Source & machine access

- **Source:** FY2027 Department of the Army RDT&E Budget Justification, Exhibits R-2/R-2A/R-3, PE 0604818A project EK9 (PB PB2027).
- **MCP:** `mcp.hitchintel.com` — `budget_get_program_element(pe="0604818A")`.

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