RDT&E Project · President's Budget PB2027

AC/MC Modernization

Project 675910·PE 0605278F — HC/MC-130 Recap RDT&E·U.S. Air Force·BA7
FY2027 Request
$34.2M
▼ 55% vs FY2026
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Project 675910 — AC/MC Modernization requests $34.2M in FY2027, 98% of the $34.9M requested for program element 0605278F, down 55% on FY2026. 8 R-2A activities decompose the request. Lockheed Martin is the largest named R-3 performer at $32.2M, 94% of the project's FY2027 R-3 total.

FY2027 Request
$34.2M
▼ 55% vs FY2026
FY2026 Enacted
$76.2M
▲ 78% vs FY2025
FY2025 Actual
$42.8M
Prior year
Project detail

What project 675910 buys

The Communication Modernization Project will allow the AC/HC/MC-130Js to meet the Secretary of the Air Force's Cryptographic Modernization Mandate requirements. The USAF initiated the Communications Modernization program to comply with Cryptographic Modernization 1 and 2 requirements, including, but not limited to, meeting Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) and VINSON/ANDVT Cryptographic Modernization (VACM) mandates, as well as delivering Second-generation Anti-jam Tactical UHF Radio for NATO (SATURN), Single Channel Ground and Airborne Radio System (SINCGARS), Airborne Mission Network (AbMN) integration, and HF Modernization capabilities to resolve DMS issues. The Air Force intends to execute critical portions of AC/MC-130J 7.0/8.1 program as part of the Communications Modernization program. The remaining AC/MC-130J 7.0/8.1 capabilities (i.e., those not needed to execute Communications Modernization) will be installed on the AC and MC-130J under a future RDT&E program within this project. Communication Modernization funding supports innovation activities to include but are not limited to studies, analyses, requirements definition, and quick-reaction capability prototypes/demonstrations to accelerate planning for technology transition, technology insertion and future acquisition programs. Project 675910, Communication Modernization may include initiation and employment of rapid acquisition authorities to respond to emerging threats and requirements as need. Resilient Positioning, Navigation, and Timing will provide reliable and accurate PNT solutions to ensure safe aerial navigation, delivery of precision fires, and support precise time coordination. This capability will also provide the foundation to counter emerging and continuously evolving electronic and cyber threats to PNT. R-PNT will integrate hardware and software to enable transit in GPS degraded/denied environments and support documented strategy requirements for uncompromised CSAR and SOF infil/exfil operations in contested environments. The chosen R-PNT solution will comply with the CSAF Capability Development Guidance Memorandum (CDGM), dated 4 Oct 2022. The R-PNT acquisition strategy involves a three phased approach. Phase 1 integrates the Resilient-Embedded GPS/INS (R-EGI) system. Phases 2 and 3 will upgrade the antenna suite and add open mission systems architecture.

R-3 lines of work
  • Product Development
  • Support
  • Test and Evaluation
Funding trajectory

Project 675910 funding, FY2025–FY2031

Prior years are actuals, the budget year is the request, and the outyears are the FYDP plan. Estimate types are colored and never summed into one figure. Projects carry the full five-year plan; the activities inside them stop at the budget year.

255075042.8FY25ACTUAL76.2FY26ENACTED34.2FY27REQUEST25.9FY2825.6FY2924.5FY3025.0FY31
Actual Enacted Request Outyear (FYDP)
Fiscal YearEstimate TypeAmount ($M)
FY2025Actual42.8
FY2026Enacted76.2
FY2027Request34.2
FY2028Outyear25.9
FY2029Outyear25.6
FY2030Outyear24.5
FY2031Outyear25.0
Inside the project

8 accomplishments / planned programs

The R-2A exhibit — the only level of the budget that describes work that has not happened yet. Activities carry the prior, current and budget year only, no five-year plan. Coverage is partial across the corpus, so count activities, never total them.

Communications Modernization Phase II▼ 39%
FY2025 actual$8.7M
FY2026 enacted$34.9M
FY2027 request$21.3M

FY2027 planned work Continuation of Phase II EMD activities.

FY2026 to FY2027 change Funding decreased due to reduced EMD Phase II activities.

FY2026 plans — current year Phase II EMD activities.

Resilient Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (R-PNT)▲ 32%
FY2025 actual$0.0M
FY2026 enacted$5.5M
FY2027 request$7.2M

FY2027 planned work Award Phase 1 engineering manufacturing development (EMD) contract.

FY2026 to FY2027 change Funding increased due to EMD contract award.

FY2026 plans — current year Contracting activites, studies and begin development for R-PNT capability.

MC-130J STAR XIII CR-2 OFP▲ 342%
FY2025 actual$0.0M
FY2026 enacted$1.1M
FY2027 request$4.8M

FY2027 planned work Continuation of development efforts, planning activities, and contract activities.

FY2026 to FY2027 change Funding increased due to ramp up of contracting activities.

FY2026 plans — current year Begin planning activities, Request for Proposal release, and contract award.

Government Test Support - Phase II▼ 77%
FY2025 actual$0.4M
FY2026 enacted$3.5M
FY2027 request$0.8M

FY2027 planned work Continuation of EMD activities to include but not limited to test and evaluation planning, conduct and support for NSERC for Communications Modernization Phase II.

FY2026 to FY2027 change Funding decrease due to reduced EMD activities.

FY2026 plans — current year EMD activities to include but not limited to test and evaluation planning, conduct and support for NSERC for Communications Modernization Phase II.

Continuous Improvement (CIP)▼ 100%
FY2025 actual$0.8M
FY2026 enacted$1.4M
FY2027 request$0.0M

FY2027 planned work Continuation of studies, analyses, and requirements definition.

FY2026 to FY2027 change Funding decreased due to reduced studies to support other higher developmental priorities.

FY2026 plans — current year Studies, analyses, requirements definition, and quick-reaction capability prototypes/demonstrations.

Communications Modernization Phase I▼ 100%
FY2025 actual$3.3M
FY2026 enacted$3.6M
FY2027 request$0.0M

FY2026 to FY2027 change Funding decreased due to anticipated completion of Phase 1 EMD.

FY2026 plans — current year Continuation of Phase I EMD activities. Anticipated completion of Comm Mod Phase 1 development in FY 2026.

Polar Airlift LC-130J▼ 100%
FY2025 actual$28.0M
FY2026 enacted$26.2M
FY2027 request$0.0M

FY2027 planned work Continue NRE work with FY26 funding.

FY2026 to FY2027 change Congress is funding this program, not the USAF. FY2027 activity will depend on Congress

FY2026 plans — current year Issue Request for Proposal to industry once the AF requirements document is signed.

Government Test Support - Phase I▼ 100%
FY2025 actual$1.6M
FY2026 enacted$0.0M
FY2027 request$0.0M

FY2026 to FY2027 change Funding decreased due to draw down of Phase 1 activities due to anticipated Phase I EMD completion.

FY2026 plans — current year Continuation of EMD activities for Communications Modernization Phase 1 Government Test Support for final operational test events.

Who's building it

Named performers on project 675910

Performers named in the R-3 exhibit under this project. Share is of the project's whole FY2027 R-3 total — the same denominator the program-element split uses, so the two read on one scale and will not sum to 100% when unnamed or government work is in the mix. Budget-justification contract funding, not obligations.

Lockheed Martin
$32.2M · 94%