# Space Systems Prototype Transitions (SSPT) — Program Element 1206427SF

**Program element:** 1206427SF  
**Component:** U.S. Space Force  
**Appropriation:** 3620F — RDT&E, Space Force  
**Budget Activity:** 4 — Advanced Component Development & Prototypes  
**Vintage:** President's Budget PB2027  
**Canonical URL:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/1206427SF

## Summary

U.S. Space Force funding falls 18% to a $87.7M request in FY2027. In the FY2027 defense authorization, the House funded it in full; the Senate funded it in full; House appropriators funded it in full. Axient leads the industry work.

## Funding profile

| Fiscal Year | Estimate Type | Amount ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | Actual | 112.1 |
| FY2026 | Enacted | 106.9 |
| FY2027 | Request | 87.7 |
| FY2028 | Outyear | 68.7 |
| FY2029 | Outyear | 70.3 |
| FY2030 | Outyear | 71.7 |
| FY2031 | Outyear | 73.3 |

> 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 | 87.7 | — |
| House NDAA (HASC) | 87.7 | +0.0 |
| Senate NDAA (SASC) | 87.7 | +0.0 |
| House Approps (HAC-D) | 87.7 | +0.0 |

> FY2027 NDAA authorization marks, as of 2026-07-27. Not appropriations or final law.

## Projects (2)

| Project | Title | FY2025 actual | FY2026 enacted | FY2027 request | Move |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 645601 | Space Defense Capabilities | 112.1 | 104.9 | 87.7 | −16% |
| 645611 | Assault Breaker II | 0.0 | 2.0 | 0.0 | −100% |

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

### Project 645601 — Space Defense Capabilities

The Space Defense Capabilities project prototypes technologies for insertion into programs of record and provides platforms to operate prototypes in space. The Rapid On-Orbit Space Technology Evaluation Ring (ROOSTER) provides a low-cost, rapid, and flexible on-orbit capability to host and deploy numerous prototypes and payloads in order to mature critical technologies and enable investment or divestment decisions. Each ROOSTER on-orbit platform is designed to fly multiple payloads per mission, thus fully utilizing launch potential and providing the only recurring rideshare option for prototypes, demonstrations, and experiments to geosynchronous orbit. The objectives of the ROOSTER program are to enable rapid and cost-effective technology insertion into operational programs of record through the on-orbit checkout and testing of prototypes, demonstrations, and experimental payloads. Additionally, ROOSTER will work to mature operational concepts and tactics, techniques, and procedures, such as on-obit refueling, for use within the United States Space Force space enterprise architecture. Tetra provides a pathfinder to define future system architectures and operational concepts for several Space Domain Awareness (SDA) and Space Control programs and other mission partners, as well as prove prototype and experiment technologies for the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) and other Department of War labs. It serves as an additional platform to host prototype and experiment payloads that need to operate in concert with ROOSTERs. As a secondary mission, it provides a training platform for operators to develop and demonstrate tactics, techniques, and procedures for the evolution of operations and training in alignment with objectives from organizations such as the National Space Test and Training Complex and United States Space Force Space Training and Readiness Command. Quasi-Zenith Satellite System-Hosted Payload has dual goals of enhancing the US-Japan alliance and proving the feasibility and capability of a SDA sensor payload able to be proliferated and hosted on US and non-US satellites. In addition to prototyping such a capability, it will serve as a dedicated sensor in the Space Surveillance Network, enhancing SDA in Geostationary Earth Orbit over the Eurasian theater.

**Named R-3 performers** (share of this project's FY2027 R-3 total, so they need not reach 100%)**:** Axient (3.0, 3.5%).

| Activity (R-2A) | FY2025 | FY2026 | FY2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Technology Maturation and Prototype Development | 36.3 | 36.2 | 46.1 |
| Prototype Integration, Test and On-Orbit Prototype Demonstration | 22.6 | 28.0 | 21.6 |
| Space-To-Space Communications | 53.3 | 40.7 | 20.1 |

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

### Project 645611 — Assault Breaker II

Assault Breaker II (ABII) is an all-Service, classified, multi-year effort, led by the Office of the Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering (OUSW(R&E)) to analyze, research, and recommend material and non-material solutions to the Joint Requirements Oversight Council/Requirements and Resourcing Alignment Board (JROC/RRAB). In FY 2027 funds in this project were transferred to Program Element (PE) 1206730SF Space Security and Defense Program for transparency and efficient execution.

| Activity (R-2A) | FY2025 | FY2026 | FY2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assault Breaker II (ABII) | 0.0 | 2.0 | 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.

## Where the FY2027 request goes

| Category | Share | $M |
|---|---|---|
| Industry primes | 3.5% | 3.0 |
| Government labs & warfare centers | 1.7% | 1.5 |
| Other / unspecified | 95% | 83.2 |

**Top named industry performers:** Axient ($3.0M, 3.5%).

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

## Mission & acquisition strategy

Space Systems Command is executing Space Systems Prototype Transition (SSPT) (Project 645601) for Guardians across Space Control, Space Access, Networks, Command and Control, Warfighting, and the Space Domain Awareness Enterprise. As a result, the Service will deter, neutralize, defeat and/or destroy counterspace threats and defend the homeland, principled public servants; space-minded warfighters; and bold and collaborative problem solvers. The Space Systems Prototype Transitions Program addresses space technology and capability gaps to facilitate technology transition of military space prototypes into programs of record.

All contracts funded in this program element will be awarded using competitive procedures to the maximum extent possible. The Space Systems Prototype Transitions (SSPT) program consists of numerous projects in which the program office will leverage rapid prototyping authorities to the maximum extent possible. The Rapid On-Orbit Space Technology Evaluation Ring (ROOSTER) acquisition strategy was approved in 2Q FY 2022. A sole-source contract was awarded for ROOSTER 2Q FY 2023 which supports the ROOSTER-4 Initial Launch Capability (ILC) 1Q FY 2027. The follow-on ROOSTER-5 bus contract was competitively awarded in 1Q FY 2025 through a mission partner's contract.

## Related program elements

- [1203155SF — Ground Moving Target Indicator](https://hitchintel.com/programs/1203155SF) (Space Force)
- [1206447SF — Resilient MW/MT - MEO](https://hitchintel.com/programs/1206447SF) (Space Force)
- [0603456F — Human Effectiveness Advanced Technology Development](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0603456F) (Air Force)
- [0207133F — F-16 Squadrons](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0207133F) (Air Force)

## Source & machine access

- **Source:** FY2027 Department of the Air Force RDT&E Budget Justification, Exhibits R-2/R-3, PE 1206427SF (PB PB2027); FY2027 NDAA committee marks (as of 2026-07-27).
- **MCP:** `mcp.hitchintel.com` — `budget_get_program_element(pe="1206427SF")`.

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