# Training Developments — Program Element 0804772F

**Program element:** 0804772F  
**Component:** U.S. Air Force  
**Appropriation:** 3600 — RDT&E, Air Force  
**Budget Activity:** 5 — System Development & Demonstration  
**Vintage:** President's Budget PB2027  
**Canonical URL:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/0804772F

## Summary

U.S. Air Force funding falls 40% to a $4.9M request in FY2027 (down from a FY2026 peak), sustained across the five-year plan. In the FY2027 defense authorization, the House funded it in full; the Senate funded it in full; House appropriators funded it in full. AFLCMC leads the industry work.

## Funding profile

| Fiscal Year | Estimate Type | Amount ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | Actual | 4.8 |
| FY2026 | Enacted | 8.2 |
| FY2027 | Request | 4.9 |
| FY2028 | Outyear | 5.1 |
| FY2029 | Outyear | 5.1 |
| FY2030 | Outyear | 5.2 |
| FY2031 | Outyear | 5.3 |

> 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 | 4.9 | — |
| House NDAA (HASC) | 4.9 | +0.0 |
| Senate NDAA (SASC) | 4.9 | +0.0 |
| House Approps (HAC-D) | 4.9 | +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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 652400 | Training Developments | 4.8 | 8.2 | 4.9 | −40% |

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

### Project 652400 — Training Developments

Training Developments program provides a more cost effective and timely approach to pilot training with technological and instructional innovations designed to improve upon Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training (SUPT). New innovative training technologies are studied and validated for implementation by the Air Education and Training Command (AETC) pilot training program to ensure delivery of rapidly developed prototypes and operationally tested learning methods and technology to realize flying training efficiencies. Training Developments program developmental efforts focus on the Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training (SUPT) which trains pilots on the T-6, T-1, and T-38 aircraft. Funding also provides for the Air Mobility Fundamentals - Simulator Only program which fast tracks pilot training, reducing it from 7 months to 3 months. Reduced training time positively impacts AETC's flying training enterprise efforts to address the Air Force's pilot shortage by improving both quality and quantity of pilots. Training Developments will continue to conduct future flying training innovation and field testing as AETC looks to transition to the Airmen Development Command. This program element included all necessary 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 elements 0605829F, 0605831F, 0605833F, and 0605898F.

**Named R-3 performers** (share of this project's FY2027 R-3 total, so they need not reach 100%)**:** AFLCMC (4.9, 100%).

| Activity (R-2A) | FY2025 | FY2026 | FY2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pilot Training Next (PTN) Development | 4.8 | 5.1 | 4.9 |

> 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Industry primes | 100% | 4.9 |

**Top named industry performers:** AFLCMC ($4.9M, 100%).

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

## Mission & acquisition strategy

Training Developments program is part of Pilot Training Transformation (PTT) program initiative to modernize pilot training, improve both quality and quantity of pilots through implementing advanced technology and up-to-date instructional techniques. In 2018, as part of this initiative, Air Education and Training Command (AETC) launched the Pilot Training Next (PTN) program in an effort to produce more pilots in less time at a reduced cost. PTN explores technological and instructional innovations designed to improve upon Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training (SUPT) at Located at Randolph Air Force Base, TX, Detachment 24.

Acquisition strategy is based on Air Education and Training Command's innovation unit [Detachment 24] requirements and will leverage current, state of the art instructional training aids and technologies. The initial systems Pilot Training Next (PTN) is primarily focused on are small-scale avionics modifications to the T-6A aircraft and incorporating virtual Reality Immersive Training Devices into the specialized undergraduate pilot training curriculum.

## Related program elements

- [0605223F — Advanced Trainer Replacement T-7A](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0605223F) (Air Force)
- [0605502C — Small Business Innovation Research - MDA](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0605502C) (Defense-Wide)
- [0604233F — Specialized Undergraduate Flight Training](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0604233F) (Air Force)
- [0205633N — Aviation Improvements](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0205633N) (Navy)

## Source & machine access

- **Source:** FY2027 Department of the Air Force RDT&E Budget Justification, Exhibits R-2/R-3, PE 0804772F (PB PB2027); FY2027 NDAA committee marks (as of 2026-07-27).
- **MCP:** `mcp.hitchintel.com` — `budget_get_program_element(pe="0804772F")`.

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