# Developmental Test (DT)

**R-2A activity** of project 2569 — Test and Evaluation (T&E)  
**Program element:** 0604840M — F-35B C2D2  
**Component:** U.S. Navy · **Budget Activity:** 7  
**Vintage:** President's Budget PB2027  
**Canonical URL:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/0604840M/2569/a1  
**Parent:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/0604840M/2569

## Summary

This activity requests $19.4M in FY2027, 14% of project 2569, 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.** Continue to support Integrated Test capacity and flight test execution (including manpower, weapons, flight hours, range time, and chase, target & tanker support assets) to develop and verify and test capabilities as directed by the F-35 JPO. Major program testing includes Block 4 weapons integration, integrated system evaluations, multi-ship operations, and mission effectiveness evaluations. Continued funding for Development Test Aircraft Modification broken out from the rest of the Development activities. Funding will also procure Developmental Test (DT) Kits. This is continued support from FY2026 for Developmental Test (DT) aircraft modifications to ensure test-ready and operationally-representative. Continuing to support flight test capacity and flight test execution. This includes first increment testing through initial and fully operational increments. The funding will be used for continuing to develop and test incrementally, for new software releases and deficiency fixes.

**FY2026 to FY2027 change.** When considering the FY2027 mandatory funding in addition to discretionary funding, the funding increase from FY2026 to FY2027 is due to additional test site infrastructure and operating costs associated with multiple concurrent software development lines as well as additional weapons system and other Block 4 capability testing. Additionally, the increase accounts for procurement of additional hardware modification kits for the DT fleet.

## Before the request year

**FY2026 plans — current year.** Continue to support Integrated Test capacity and flight test execution (including manpower, weapons, flight hours, range time, and chase, target & tanker support assets) to develop and verify and test capabilities as directed by the F-35 JPO. Major program testing includes Block 4 weapons integration, integrated system evaluations, multi-ship operations, and mission effectiveness evaluations. Continued funding for Development Test Aircraft Modification broken out from the rest of the Development activities. Funding will also procure Developmental Test (DT) Kits. This is continued support from FY25 for Developmental Test (DT) aircraft modifications to ensure test-ready and operationally-representative. Continuing to support flight test capacity and flight test execution. This includes first increment testing through initial and fully operational increments. The funding will be used for continuing to develop and test incrementally, for new software releases and deficiency fixes.

## Funding

| Fiscal Year | Estimate Type | Amount ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | Actual | 21.2 |
| FY2026 | Enacted | 17.6 |
| FY2027 | Request | 19.4 |

> 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 2569

- [Future Flight Test Capabilities/Investments (FI)](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0604840M/2569/a3) — FY2027 69.2
- [Development Foundation Contract (DFC) Flight Test and Tech Refresh](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0604840M/2569/a0) — FY2027 36.0
- [Digital Infrastructure](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0604840M/2569/a4) — FY2027 10.7
- Operational Test (OT) — FY2027 7.0

## Source & machine access

- **Source:** FY2027 Department of the Navy RDT&E Budget Justification, Exhibit R-2A, PE 0604840M project 2569 (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.*