Test And Evaluation Support Budget Authority
The Automatic Test Systems (ATS) program office is responsible for developing, acquiring, delivering and sustaining ATS war-fighting capabilities for the United Stated Air Force (USAF). ATS is responsible for developing, modernizing, acquiring, and sustaining ATS to meet the user's operational needs. ATS Product Group consists of the following: Armament and Stores Avionics Electronic Warfare Software Loader/Verifier and Built-in-Test Radar and Identification Friend or Foe Specialized Automatic Test Systems Innovation and Digital Transformation Requirements for the Common Armament Tester - Fighters and the Aircraft Smart Weapon Test Set programs were combined and is not the Common Armament Tester -Fighters for FY24 through the sustainment of the programs. RDT&E (APPN 3600) funding is essential to maintain operational readiness and technological superiority for our warfighters, requiring a strategic investment in the development, modernization, and technology insertion into over 8,000 testers impacting all major commands and the Joint Force. This investment directly supports the modernization of cyber-resilient, nuclear-certified Automatic Test Systems (ATS) across a wide range of critical USAF platforms, including Armament, Bomber, Fighter/Advanced Aircraft, Mobility, Training, ISR, and SOF, safeguarding national security and ensuring mission success. These funds will also accelerate the ATS Digital Transformation initiative, integrating Digital Engineering into legacy systems to enhance agility and responsiveness to evolving threats, ultimately improving efficiency and reducing long-term costs for the Air Force. This modernization effort is a vital component of ensuring a strong and capable military prepared to meet the challenges of the 21st century. RDT&E (APPN 3600) funds needed for development of the Common Armament Tester-Fighters (CAT-F). This tester will ensure the readiness and security of our critical fighter platforms (F-15, F-16, and potentially A-10, F-22, and F-35) which requires investment in a modernized testing infrastructure. Currently the fragmented tester environment is vulnerable to outside forces due to not being certified or kept current on needed cyber protections. This common tester would address the critical needs to protecting critical assets across all platforms and reduce vulnerabilities of mission critical data.
FY2027 planned work Identify, research, and facilitate innovative solutions for current and future ATS products, challenges, and needs. Implement digital technology to modernize and improve ATS operations, products and services that transform system management into digital formats. Efforts include ruggedized cables for B-52 Multi-User Systems Tester Armament Next Generation (MUSTANG), CACI - Modeling, on ramp fees associated with the award of ATS's 10-year $980M Multiple Award Indefinite Delivery-Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ), ATSA I, which is a mandatory source contracts providing a rapid award approach for the procurement, development, and sustainment of the goods and services, supporting life-cycle of legacy…
FY2026 to FY2027 change Decrease from FY26 to FY27 is due to system modeling efforts awarding for less due to government cost savings, on ramp fees are only due in the base year, ruggedized cable efforts for MUSTANG will be complete.
FY2026 plans — current year Provides funding for engineering and manufacturing development and modernization of ATS/equipment for all USAF major weapon systems. Includes common (used on more than one weapon system) and peculiar (unique to one weapon system), which directly support aircraft maintenance requirements. This IPT has been tasked with risk reduction of ATS by improving modernization and digital material management to enhance and secure the future of ATS. Projects have been established to secure the future and security of automatic test systems. The Foundational Enabler for the Future Fight: This program is the only path to fielding the test solutions required for the Air Force's next-generation platforms…
FY2027 planned work Funds are required to pay for civilian direct cite authority (DCA) positions and costs associated with the Common Armament Tester - Fighters. This program element may include necessary civilian pay expenses required to manage, execute, and deliver weapon system capability. The use of such program funds would be in addition to the civilian pay expenses budgeted in program element 0605829F, 0605831F, 0605833F, or 0605898F. In FY 2025 1.979M was expended for civilian pay expenses in this program element, in FY 2026 1.978M and FY2027 2.225M is forecasted to pay expenses in this 0701212F for Direct Cite Authority positions. In direct support of SecWar's direction to increase readiness across the…
FY2026 to FY2027 change Increase from FY26 to FY27 is due to delays caused by protest during initial request for proposal (RFP). As a result, contract award/vendor selection are delayed.
FY2026 plans — current year Funds required to continue the development of the Common Armament Tester for Fighters (CAT-F). CAT-F will provide a common preload and fault isolation armament tester to execute requirements on both flightline and back-shop. Phase I: Engineering Manufacturing Development (EMD) Stage I: Source Selection Procedures Evaluation Full and Open Competition with no Small Business Set-Aside Stage II: Initial Down Select to two (2) offerors Demonstration: Physical Asset / Testing Parameters Verification: Assess projected critical capabilities of the CAT-F system Digital Package: Data Sufficiency Cost: EMD Completion Stage III: EMD-Option Award (selecting at least one for production) CAT-F System…
Continue of developing air adapter groups (AAG) that will allow the 18 platforms currently utilizing CAPRE legacy to transition over to utilizing CAPRE SMLV system. Block 2 Porting Continued (F-15) Block 5 Porting (CV-22) Award of contract for complex F-16 AAGs via the Automatic Test Systems Acquisition (ATSA) Indefinite Delivery…
Read the FY2027 plan →