# Space Development Agency R&E

**R-2A activity** of project 634869 — Space Science and Technology Research and Development  
**Program element:** 1206310SF — Space Science and Technology Research and Development  
**Component:** U.S. Space Force · **Budget Activity:** 3  
**Vintage:** President's Budget PB2027  
**Canonical URL:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/1206310SF/634869/a0  
**Parent:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/1206310SF

## Summary

This activity requests $313.7M in FY2027, 100% of project 634869, down 31% on FY2026. The R-2A exhibit describes it across FY2026–FY2027, including what the FY2027 money is planned to buy.

## What the FY2027 request buys

**FY2027 planned work.** Tranche 0 - Conduct residual experimentation in support of PWSA risk reduction. - Conduct end-of-life fleet operations. Tranche 1 - Resolve anomalous behavior in system interoperability and compatibility, including optical communications, space-to-ground radio frequency (RF), Link 16, and Networking. - Continue mission engineering support activities including Concept of Operations (CONOPS) and Concept of Employment (CONEMP) development, user segment integration, developmental and operational test planning, and characterization and modeling of system performance targeting advanced use case capabilities. - Augment User Guides and Interface Control Documents (ICDs) and conduct integration and test activities to onboard additional Transport mission partners. Tranche 2 - Continue supporting risk reduction of Transport Layer Tranche 2 (TLT2) satellites, ground systems, and integration. - Continue mission engineering support activities including Concept of Operations (CONOPS) and Concept of Employment (CONEMP) development, user segment integration, developmental and operational test planning, and characterization and modeling of system performance. - Continue development of user Interface Control Documents (ICDs). - Fund mission unique hardware and integration of the T2 space vehicles on the National Security Space Launch (NSSL) Launch vehicles. - Complete payload and space vehicle manufacturing, assembly, integration and test activities. - Continue to support ground activities to ensure integration with PWSA Operations Centers. - Continue space vehicle FlatSat development and operations testing. - Complete Transport payload ground calibration and space vehicle environmental test campaigns. - Transition to nominal operations and conduct space vehicle command and control, and enterprise management, and sustainment for all TLT2 satellites. - Conduct system level verification and Developmental Testing. - Begin software updates and testing on-orbit defect discoveries made during on-orbit functional and performance testing. - Begin early Operational Testing of TLT2 capabilities. Tranche 3 - Continue Ground Entry Point (GEP) global footprint expansion in support of Tranche 3 (T3) launches. - Continue development of the PWSA Ground Segment and capability delivery in support of T3. - Continue PWSA ground segment evolution, enhancing PWSA framework capabilities for future Tranches. Risk Reduction Activities - Continue to conduct analysis, pursue tech maturation initiatives, and apply lessons learned to inform on-going and future development and delivery activities for data transport at the tactical edge. Tranche x Demonstration and Experimentation System (TxDES) - Demonstrate and advance the PWSA architecture and its components to fill existing and future gaps to support warfighting capabilities in Missile Warning, Missile Tracking and Missile Defense. The program provides rapid 2-year sprints supporting vendor development, technology maturation and risk reduction in both government-dedicated and commercial connected capabilities. Projects may include: • PWSA integration with pLEO Space Data Network (SDN) • Development of new sensor technology for Tranche 3+ • Acceleration of PWSA integration into Current Missions (BMC3 across the kill chain) • Development of enhanced tipping and queuing sensors for Combat ID • Deorbit as a Service for proliferated constellation maintenance • PNT over communication channels, PNT SA payload upgrades and light weight PNT signal demonstrations to support user integration prior to operations Advanced Fire Control (AFC) - Perform integration testing between Fire-control On Orbit-support-to-the-war (FOO) Fighter and the Demonstration Operations Center (DOC).Continue Advanced Fire Control Ground Infrastructure (AFCGI) effort to provide a common, enduring ground infrastructure and resources to minimize cost and complexity for fire-control-related space vehicle demonstration and experimentation programs (beginning with FOO Fighter). - Continue execution of other advanced fire control efforts including Warlock and Goliath. Other activities in this line may include, but are not limited to program office support, studies, technical analysis, experimentation, etc.

**FY2026 to FY2027 change.** FY 2027 decreases from FY 2026 due to adjustments for other United States Space Force priorities.

## Before the request year

**FY2026 plans — current year.** Tranche 0 - Continue to conduct post-Capstone demonstrations and experimentations with warfighters. - Begin end-of-life operations on select satellites. Tranche 1 - Resolve anomalous behavior in system interoperability and compatibility, including optical communications, space-to-ground radio frequency (RF), Link 16, and Networking. - Continue mission engineering support activities including Concept of Operations (CONOPS) and Concept of Employment (CONEMP) development, user segment integration, developmental and operational test planning, and characterization and modeling of system performance targeting advanced use case capabilities. - Augment User Guides and Interface Control Documents (ICDs) and conduct integration and test activities to onboard additional Transport mission partners. Tranche 2 - Support risk reduction of Transport Layer Tranche 2 (TLT2) satellites, ground systems, and integration. - Continue interoperability and compatibility testing for key T2 interfaces including optical communications, space-to-ground radio frequency (RF), Link 16, tactical satellite communications (TACSATCOM), Integrated Broadcast Service - Low Earth Orbit (IBS-L), and Networking and Encryption. - Continue mission engineering support activities including Concept of Operations (CONOPS) and Concept of Employment (CONEMP) development, user segment integration, developmental and operational test planning, and characterization and modeling of system performance. - Continue development of user Interface Control Documents (ICDs). - Fund mission unique hardware and integration of the T2 space vehicles on the National Security Space Launch (NSSL) Launch vehicles. Tranche 3 - Expand Ground Entry Point (GEP) global footprint in preparation for launch of Tranche 3 (T3) space vehicles. - Continue development of the PWSA Ground Segment in support of T3. - Initiate PWSA ground segment evolution, enhancing PWSA framework capabilities for future Tranches. Risk Reduction Activities - Continue to conduct analysis, pursue tech maturation initiatives, and apply lessons learned to inform on-going and future development and delivery activities for data transport at the tactical edge. Tranche x Demonstration and Experimentation System (TxDES) - Demonstrate and advance the PWSA architecture and its components to fill existing and future gaps to support warfighting capabilities in Missile Warning, Missile Tracking and Missile Defense. The program provides rapid 2-year sprints supporting vendor development, technology maturation and risk reduction in both government-dedicated and commercial connected capabilities. Projects may include: • Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA) integration with proliferated Low Earth Orbit Space Data Network (SDN) • Development of new sensor technology for Tranche 3+ • Acceleration of PWSA integration into Current Missions (Battle Management Command, Control, and Communications (BMC3) across the kill chain) • Development of enhanced tipping and queuing sensors for Combat ID • Deorbit as a Service for proliferated constellation maintenance • PNT over communication channels, PNT SA payload upgrades and light weight PNT signal demonstrations to support user integration prior to operations Advanced Fire Control (AFC) - Perform integration testing between Fire-control On Orbit-support-to-the-war (FOO) Fighter and the Demonstration Operations Center (DOC). - Continue Advanced Fire Control Ground Infrastructure (AFCGI) effort to provide a common, enduring ground infrastructure and resources to minimize cost and complexity for fire-control-related space vehicle demonstration and experimentation programs (beginning with FOO Fighter). - Continue execution of other advanced fire control efforts including Warlock and Goliath. - Complete network design for Operational AFC. Other activities in this line may include, but are not limited to program office support, studies, technical analysis, experimentation, etc.

## Funding

| Fiscal Year | Estimate Type | Amount ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | Actual | 379.2 |
| FY2026 | Enacted | 453.0 |
| FY2027 | Request | 313.7 |

> Prior, current and budget year only — an R-2A activity carries no five-year plan. It sums exactly into its project in the request year and not necessarily in any other.

## Source & machine access

- **Source:** FY2027 Department of the Air Force RDT&E Budget Justification, Exhibit R-2A, PE 1206310SF project 634869 (PB PB2027). Narrative is the government's own text.
- **No marks, no contractors at this grain** — congressional marks land on the program element and R-3 performers on the project.
- **MCP:** `mcp.hitchintel.com` — `budget_get_activity`.

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