# Project 3239 — Real-Time Spectrum Operations (RTSO)

**Program element:** 0605866N — Navy Space & Electr Warfare Supt  
**Project:** 3239  
**Component:** U.S. Navy  
**Appropriation:** 1319 — RDT&E, Navy  
**Budget Activity:** 6 — RDT&E Management Support  
**Vintage:** President's Budget PB2027  
**Canonical URL:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/0605866N/3239  
**Parent:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/0605866N

## Summary

Project 3239 — Real-Time Spectrum Operations (RTSO) requests $19.3M in FY2027, 90% of the $21.5M requested for program element 0605866N, down 4.8% on FY2026. 1 R-2A activity decomposes the request.

## Funding profile

| Fiscal Year | Estimate Type | Amount ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | Actual | 20.5 |
| FY2026 | Enacted | 20.2 |
| FY2027 | Request | 19.3 |
| FY2028 | Outyear | 18.7 |
| FY2029 | Outyear | 18.9 |
| FY2030 | Outyear | 19.2 |
| FY2031 | Outyear | 19.6 |

> Estimate types are not summed. This project is one leaf of PE 0605866N; the PE total is the sum of its projects, never added to them.

## What project 3239 buys

The Real-Time Spectrum Operations (RTSO) program develops tools, processes, and algorithms to conduct spectrum planning, spectrum sensing, and monitoring of the electromagnetic (EM) environment; characterize and predict electromagnetic (EM) environmental effects (E3); and manage and maneuver to avoid or mitigate electromagnetic interference (EMI) and EM vulnerability of Navy platforms. RTSO supports Navy and Marine Corps EM Spectrum Operations for global spectrum usage and allocation planning. RTSO researches the effects between shipboard transmitters and receivers and EM system interactions with the other systems installed on units within a strike group. The program developed a capability to sense and monitor shipboard EM spectrum usage and provides information to validate spectrum plans in support of Emissions Control (EMCON) within the strike group. RTSO software validates and displays spectrum plan compliance with a spectrum common operational picture. This EM spectrum management aid, combined with an Own Force Monitoring (OFM) sensor input, supports Battlespace Awareness and Information Operations. These self-awareness and validation capabilities greatly enhance the Navy's ability to perform command and control of the EM spectrum warfighting domain. In FY 2027, the RTSO program will continue to develop and integrate new capabilities for RTSO OFM and spectrum management and design across various Navy and Military Sealift Command (MSC) ship classes. Research and development efforts will focus on enhancing RTSO software, including cloud architecture, spectrum management, and detection capabilities. Additionally, RTSO will explore proof-of-concept capabilities, such as spectrum mission planning decision aids and intelligent sectoring, as well as models to estimate Radio Frequency (RF) performance ranges in complex electromagnetic environments. The program will also participate in Limited Objective Experiments to demonstrate new capabilities to Fleet users and develop software releases for afloat users in a cloud environment. Furthermore, RTSO will validate machine learning and software automation capabilities to inform future integration and development.

## Activities (R-2A) — 1

| Activity | FY2025 | FY2026 | FY2027 | Move | Page |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Real-Time Spectrum Operations (RTSO) | 20.5 | 20.2 | 19.3 | −5% | [a0](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0605866N/3239/a0) |

> Activities carry the prior, current and budget year only — no five-year plan. In the request year they partition this project exactly; in earlier years they can under-cover it.

### Real-Time Spectrum Operations (RTSO)

- Continue development and integration of a new and increased capability for RTSO OFM and spectrum management design for different Navy and Military Sealift Command ship classes. - Continue research, development, enhancement and refinement of RTSO software cloud architecture, spectrum COP, live data ingest, detection and…

Full year-by-year narrative: https://hitchintel.com/programs/0605866N/3239/a0

## What is NOT on this page

Congressional marks, the R-2 mission description and acquisition strategy, the industry vs government split of the whole request, and related program elements are recorded at **program-element** grain — an NDAA mark lands on a PE, never on a project. They are at https://hitchintel.com/programs/0605866N.

## Source & machine access

- **Source:** FY2027 Department of the Navy RDT&E Budget Justification, Exhibits R-2/R-2A/R-3, PE 0605866N project 3239 (PB PB2027).
- **MCP:** `mcp.hitchintel.com` — `budget_get_program_element(pe="0605866N")`.

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