# USMC Unique

**R-2A activity** of project 2576 — F-35 USMC Unique  
**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/2576/a0  
**Parent:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/0604840M/2576

## Summary

This activity requests $22.7M in FY2027, 100% of project 2576, 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.** FY2027 plans include capability development in collaborative combat aircraft (CCA) paired with F-35. This is critical for the integration and control architecture, which will allow for the procurement of CCA systems to achieve operational capability. The program will continue test planning and F-35B STOVL durability test article build to support ramp up of test execution. This durability test effort is required to verify the 8,000 hour full service life of the F-35B variant. Lab Based Security Assessment (LBSA) testing will be executed to verify Cross Domain Solution (CDS) improvements introduced to fulfill NSA Raise The Bar (RTB) requirements for cybersecurity. Various STOVL performance tests will funded such as fuel densiometer and narrow runway, as well as envelope expansion efforts for certain weapon types. USMC Unique Operational Test funding will support various integrated tests and investigations. The following will be funded in order to support the various tests and investigations: manpower, F-35 SAPF facilities, weapons, flight hours, range time, and chase, target & tanker support assets, as well USMC systems engineering efforts and other emerging USMC requirements.

**FY2026 to FY2027 change.** Decrease from FY2026 to FY2027 is due to F-35B STOVL durability test article efficiencies and outside agency funding participation across multiple service unique efforts to include Virtual Warfare Center (VWC), Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA), classified office space cost sharing, and T-SAPF contract efficiencies. iFMV investigative testing plans are maturing based on technology advancement and test schedules have been optimized.

## Before the request year

**FY2026 plans — current year.** FY2026 plans include capability development in collaborative combat aircraft (CCA) paired with F-35. This is critical for the integration and control architecture, which will allow for the procurement of CCA systems to achieve operational capability. The program will continue test planning and F-35B STOVL durability test article build to support ramp up of test execution. This durability test effort is required to verify the 8,000 hour full service life of the F-35B variant. Lab Based Security Assessment (LBSA) testing will be executed to verify Cross Domain Solution (CDS) improvements introduced to fulfill NSA Raise The Bar (RTB) requirements for cybersecurity. Various STOVL performance tests will funded such as fuel densiometer and narrow runway, as well as envelope expansion efforts for certain weapon types. USMC Unique Operational Test funding will support various integrated tests and investigations. The following will be funded in order to support the various tests and investigations: manpower, F-35 SAPF facilities, weapons, flight hours, range time, and chase, target & tanker support assets, as well USMC systems engineering efforts and other emerging USMC requirements.

## Funding

| Fiscal Year | Estimate Type | Amount ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | Actual | 17.2 |
| FY2026 | Enacted | 29.1 |
| FY2027 | Request | 22.7 |

> 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.

## Source & machine access

- **Source:** FY2027 Department of the Navy RDT&E Budget Justification, Exhibit R-2A, PE 0604840M project 2576 (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.*