# Defense Exportability Features (DEF) Program — Program Element 0605022D8Z

**Program element:** 0605022D8Z  
**Component:** Defense-Wide  
**Appropriation:** 0400 — RDT&E, Defense-Wide  
**Budget Activity:** 5 — System Development & Demonstration  
**Vintage:** President's Budget PB2027  
**Canonical URL:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/0605022D8Z

## Summary

Defense-Wide requests $5.9M in FY2027, sustained across the five-year plan. In the FY2027 defense authorization, the House funded it in full; the Senate added 841% (to $55.9M); House appropriators funded it in full.

## Funding profile

| Fiscal Year | Estimate Type | Amount ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | Actual | 15.2 |
| FY2026 | Enacted | 6.7 |
| FY2027 | Request | 5.9 |
| FY2028 | Outyear | 6.7 |
| FY2029 | Outyear | 7.0 |
| FY2030 | Outyear | 7.4 |
| FY2031 | Outyear | 7.5 |

> Estimate types are not summed — the profile mixes actuals, enacted law, the request, and outyear projections.

## Congressional marks (FY2027)

| Stage | Marked ($M) | Change ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| Request | 5.9 | — |
| House NDAA (HASC) | 5.9 | +0.0 |
| Senate NDAA (SASC) | 55.9 | +50.0 |
| House Approps (HAC-D) | 5.9 | +0.0 |

> FY2027 NDAA authorization marks, as of 2026-07-27. Not appropriations or final law.

## Projects (1)

| Project | Title | FY2025 actual | FY2026 enacted | FY2027 request | Move |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 013 | Defense Exportability Features (DEF) Program | 15.2 | 6.7 | 5.9 | −11% |

> Projects are the summable leaves: the program element total is their sum, never added to it.

### Project 013 — Defense Exportability Features (DEF) Program

The DEF Program funds activities to support identification of major defense acquisition programs for possible export and the planning for design and incorporation of exportability features during, but not limited to, the research and development phases of these programs. Features include, but are not limited to, technology and engineering design activities such as capability differentials, anti-tamper, system assurance, and software assurance. Activities include the development of program protection strategies for the program; the design and incorporation of exportability features into the system; implementation of exportability requirements into contracts; and other research, development, test, and evaluation activities. Defense exportability features play a critically important role in DoW efforts to build partnership capacity and increase defense sales. Funds support building joint and coalition environments by enabling the export of DoW systems to a wide range of partner nations, resulting in improved security and interoperability. In addition to the operational benefits, by providing these resources up front, the United States and partner nations will save significant resources by more efficiently designing and producing exportable U.S. systems. Failure to identify the full range of CPI early in a DoW program's design phase can have a major impact on affordability and schedule when programs have to retrofit program protection measures prior to export. Early development of export variants, including systems design approaches to integrate exportable anti-tamper protection and differential capability requirements to lower production costs, makes it possible to improve quality and timely deliveries to allies and partners and may enhance U.S. industry’s share of the global marketplace.

| Activity (R-2A) | FY2025 | FY2026 | FY2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| DEF Program | 15.2 | 6.7 | 5.9 |

> R-2A activities carry the prior, current and budget year only — no five-year plan. Coverage is partial, so count them, never total them.

## Where the FY2027 request goes

| Category | Share | $M |
|---|---|---|
| Other / unspecified | 100% | 5.9 |

> R-3 exhibit contract funding, not USAspending obligations.

## Mission & acquisition strategy

The Defense Exportability Features (DEF) Program funds activities to support identification of major defense acquisition programs for possible export and the planning for design and incorporation of exportability features earlier in the acquisition life cycle, including, but not limited to, during the research and development phases of these programs. Features include, but are not limited to, technology and engineering design activities such as capability differentials, anti-tamper, system assurance, and software assurance.

N/A

## Related program elements

- [0605030A — Joint Tactical Network Center (JTNC)](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0605030A) (Army)
- [0305208M — Distributed Common Ground/Surface Systems](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0305208M) (Navy)
- [0604604A — Medium Tactical Vehicles](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0604604A) (Army)
- [0605024F — Anti-Tamper Technology Executive Agent](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0605024F) (Air Force)

## Source & machine access

- **Source:** FY2027 Office of the Secretary of Defense RDT&E Budget Justification, Exhibits R-2/R-3, PE 0605022D8Z (PB PB2027); FY2027 NDAA committee marks (as of 2026-07-27).
- **MCP:** `mcp.hitchintel.com` — `budget_get_program_element(pe="0605022D8Z")`.

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