# Operational Test (OT)

**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/a2  
**Parent:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/0604840F/673503

## Summary

This activity requests $14.1M in FY2027, 4.9% of project 673503, up 10% 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.** Operational Test activities will continue from FY26 into FY27 under a level-of-effort OT capacity as defined in the Integrated Test Team (ITT) charter and as required to support Block 4 construct's capability releases. These activities may include OT squadron participation in large force fleet-representative exercises or joint force exercises to stress the capabilities in an operational environment. Funding will also be used to continue refining and improving OT data analysis tools and OT data management.

**FY2026 to FY2027 change.** When considering the FY2027 mandatory funding in addition to discretionary funding, the increase from FY2026 to FY2027 is due to additional operational testing and weapon development tests in FY2027 to support added Tech Refresh 2 software delivery in addition to the TR3 software development lines. This adds additional "for score" OT requirements in addition to the additional OT feedback during development cycle. Additionally, increase accounts for procurement of additional HW modification kits for the OT fleet.

## Before the request year

**FY2026 plans — current year.** Operational Test activities will continue from FY2025 into FY2026 under a level-of-effort OT capacity as defined in the Integrated Test Team (ITT) charter and as required to support Block 4 construct's capability releases. These activities may include OT squadron participation in large force fleet-representative exercises or joint force exercises to stress the capabilities in an operational environment. Funding will also be used to continue refining and improving OT data analysis tools and OT data management.

## Funding

| Fiscal Year | Estimate Type | Amount ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | Actual | 15.9 |
| FY2026 | Enacted | 12.8 |
| FY2027 | Request | 14.1 |

> 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
- [Development Foundation Contract (DFC) Flight Test and Tech Refresh](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0604840F/673503/a0) — FY2027 72.0
- [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

## 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.*