# Technology Maturation and Prototype Development

**R-2A activity** of project 645601 — Space Defense Capabilities  
**Program element:** 1206427SF — Space Systems Prototype Transitions (SSPT)  
**Component:** U.S. Space Force · **Budget Activity:** 4  
**Vintage:** President's Budget PB2027  
**Canonical URL:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/1206427SF/645601/a0  
**Parent:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/1206427SF/645601

## Summary

This activity requests $46.1M in FY2027, 53% of project 645601, up 27% 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.** - ROOSTER: Support shipment and launch integration efforts for the ROOSTER-4 space vehicle, pending updated launch plans. For ROOSTER-5, complete platform development and factory testing of the ROOSTER-5 space vehicle and begin integrated test campaign. Prepare for shipment and launch integration efforts. Obtain security and policy approval for the test campaigns of both integrated space vehicles and launch stacks, USSF-43 and USSF-70, respectively. For ROOSTER-6, award integration contract to begin initial integration and development of the space vehicle platform. Rapidly respond to implement system resiliency and situational awareness necessary to operate in the contested space domain. Activities may include, but are not limited to program office support, studies, technical analysis, experimentation, risk reduction, prototyping, and activities that may leverage commercial, U.S. Government partnership, and international opportunities to respond to existing and emerging adversarial threats with speed and agility. - Tetra: Finish Tetra 5 and continue storage pending updated launch plans (USSF-43). Continue development of Tetra 6 and continue storage pending updated launch plans (USSF-155). Continue storage of Tetra 3 and 4. Initiate follow-on space vehicle bus development and payload integration. Award future Tetra contract(s). - Quasi-Zenith Satellite System-Hosted Payload (QZSS-HP): Continue international cooperation with Japan by maturing system components and connectivity with internal and external systems. Continue maturation of the ground system data dissemination in support of HP-1 and HP-2 in preparation for acceptance as dedicated sensors to the Space Surveillance Network.

**FY2026 to FY2027 change.** FY 2027 increased by $9.916 million due to continued development of the Rapid On-Orbit Space Technology Evaluation Ring (ROOSTER)-6 bus.

## Before the request year

**FY2026 plans — current year.** - Rapid On-Orbit Space Technology Evaluation Ring (ROOSTER): Support shipment and launch integration efforts for the ROOSTER-4 Space Vehicle. Continue development and integration of the ROOSTER-5 space vehicle and begin the factory test campaign. Obtain security and policy approval for the test campaigns of both integrated space vehicles and launch stacks USSF-43 and USSF-70, respectively. Initiate follow-on space vehicle bus and payload development. Award ROOSTER-6 contract. - Tetra: Continue development of Tetra 5 & Tetra 6, in addition to pending launch plans. Continue storage of Tetra 3 and 4 pending updated launch plans. - Quasi-Zenith Satellite System—Hosted Payload: Continue international cooperation with Japan by maturing system components and connectivity with internal and external systems. Continue ground system and data communication development.

## Funding

| Fiscal Year | Estimate Type | Amount ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | Actual | 36.3 |
| FY2026 | Enacted | 36.2 |
| FY2027 | Request | 46.1 |

> 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.

## Other activities in project 645601

- [Prototype Integration, Test and On-Orbit Prototype Demonstration](https://hitchintel.com/programs/1206427SF/645601/a1) — FY2027 21.6
- [Space-To-Space Communications](https://hitchintel.com/programs/1206427SF/645601/a2) — FY2027 20.1

## Source & machine access

- **Source:** FY2027 Department of the Air Force RDT&E Budget Justification, Exhibit R-2A, PE 1206427SF project 645601 (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.*