# Development Foundation Contract (DFC) Flight Test and Tech Refresh

**R-2A activity** of project 673503 — Test and Evaluation (T&E)  
**Program element:** 0604840F — F-35 C2D2  
**Component:** U.S. Air Force · **Budget Activity:** 7  
**Vintage:** President's Budget PB2027  
**Canonical URL:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/0604840F/673503/a0  
**Parent:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/0604840F/673503

## Summary

This activity requests $72.0M in FY2027, 25% of project 673503, down 22% 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.** DFC will provide flight test support for Block 4 capabilities and weapons testing to accelerate delivery of weapons, software, and carrier operating envelopes to the Services. Continues annualized equipment recapitalization of ground support equipment along with technology refresh and specific lab equipment replacement and modernization efforts to remain representative of Block 4 capabilities. These efforts will sustain, replace, upgrade, and modify test infrastructure hardware and software.

**FY2026 to FY2027 change.** When considering the FY2027 mandatory funding in addition to discretionary funding, the increase from FY2026 to FY2027 is due to cost inflation factors, increased weapons testing and Block 4 capability testing, additional sustainment support for DT aircraft, Development Test Viability modifications support, as well as replacement of ground support equipment and laboratory development.

## Before the request year

**FY2026 plans — current year.** DFC will provide flight test support for Block 4 capabilities and weapons testing to accelerate delivery of weapons to the Services. Continues annualized equipment recapitalization of ground support equipment along with technology refresh and specific lab equipment replacement and modernization efforts to remain representative of Block 4 capabilities. These efforts will sustain, replace, upgrade, and modify test infrastructure hardware and software.

## Funding

| Fiscal Year | Estimate Type | Amount ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | Actual | 89.4 |
| FY2026 | Enacted | 91.8 |
| FY2027 | Request | 72.0 |

> 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.

## Other activities in project 673503

- [Future Flight Test Capabilities/Investments (FI)](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0604840F/673503/a3) — FY2027 138.3
- [Developmental Test (DT)](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0604840F/673503/a1) — FY2027 38.8
- [Digital Infrastructure (DI)](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0604840F/673503/a4) — FY2027 21.5
- [Operational Test (OT)](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0604840F/673503/a2) — FY2027 14.1

## Source & machine access

- **Source:** FY2027 Department of the Air Force RDT&E Budget Justification, Exhibit R-2A, PE 0604840F project 673503 (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.*