# Small Business Innovation Research — Program Element 0605502F

**Program element:** 0605502F  
**Component:** U.S. Air Force  
**Appropriation:** 3600 — RDT&E, Air Force  
**Budget Activity:** 6 — RDT&E Management Support  
**Vintage:** President's Budget PB2027  
**Canonical URL:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/0605502F

## Summary

U.S. Air Force requests $0.0M in FY2027.

## Funding profile

| Fiscal Year | Estimate Type | Amount ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | Actual | 904.7 |
| FY2026 | Enacted | 0.0 |
| FY2027 | Request | 0.0 |
| FY2028 | Outyear | 0.0 |
| FY2029 | Outyear | 0.0 |
| FY2030 | Outyear | 0.0 |
| FY2031 | Outyear | 0.0 |

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

## Projects (1)

| Project | Title | FY2025 actual | FY2026 enacted | FY2027 request | Move |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 663005 | Small Business Innovation Research | 904.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — |

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

### Project 663005 — Small Business Innovation Research

The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program implements 15 U.S.C Section 638 to maximize the creative, innovative, and entrepreneurial spirit of small businesses to solve technological problems. AFWERX administers the Department of Air Force (DAF) SBIR/STTR program with a vision to empower an innovation ecosystem that delivers disruptive Air & Space capabilities. AFWERX accelerates agile and affordable capability transitions by teaming innovation technology developers with Airmen and Guardian talent. AFWERX accomplishes this through (1) connecting diverse, innovative industry, academia, and Government entities; (2) creating capability options and prototype opportunities for the DAF; (3) facilitating streamlined acquisition processes; and (4) fostering a culture of innovation. Funding is spread across multiple focus areas that change from year to year based on known and emerging technology gaps, warfighting demand signals, and broader assessments of the military industrial base in light of its reliance on foundational commercial industries. SBIR/STTR investments will be made in Open Topic, Specific Topic, and TACFI/STRATFI programs based on demand signals, timeliness of funds allocation and availability, and changes to strategic guidance or priorities. The DAF SBIR/STTR program implements three different approaches to provide funding and opportunities to small businesses. Open Topic: The Open Topic Program uses a technology-agnostic solicitation which encourages commercial industry to submit dual-use technology solutions without having a known end-user. It is used to capture the best capabilities and emerging technologies and allows industry to bring novel solutions to the DAF. Specific Topic: The Specific Topic Program seeks innovative solutions for SECAF identified Operational Imperatives and defined problem sets by a DAF end user or customer. Specific Topics have clearly-defined requirements and a known DAF customer built into the topic solicitation. STRATFI/TACFI: The STRATFI (Strategic Funding Increase) and TACFI (Tactical Funding Increase) Programs help to scale Phase II efforts to the level needed to achieve technology transitions. These programs de-risk development through syndication with multiple transition-focused partners and leveraging outside investment.

| Activity (R-2A) | FY2025 | FY2026 | FY2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small Business Innovation Research & Small Business Technology Transfer | 904.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 |

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

## Source & machine access

- **Source:** FY2027 Department of the Air Force RDT&E Budget Justification, Exhibits R-2/R-3, PE 0605502F (PB PB2027).
- **MCP:** `mcp.hitchintel.com` — `budget_get_program_element(pe="0605502F")`.

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