# MILSATCOM Space Modernization Initiative (SMI) — Program Element 1206431SF

**Program element:** 1206431SF  
**Component:** U.S. Space Force  
**Appropriation:** 3620F — RDT&E, Space Force  
**Budget Activity:** 5 — System Development & Demonstration  
**Vintage:** President's Budget PB2027  
**Canonical URL:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/1206431SF

## Summary

U.S. Space Force funding falls 25% to a $10.2M request in FY2027 (down from a FY2026 peak), with nothing planned by FY2031. In the FY2027 defense authorization, the House funded it in full; the Senate funded it in full; House appropriators funded it in full.

## Funding profile

| Fiscal Year | Estimate Type | Amount ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | Actual | 1.0 |
| FY2026 | Enacted | 13.6 |
| FY2027 | Request | 10.2 |
| FY2028 | Outyear | 1.1 |
| FY2029 | Outyear | 0.0 |
| FY2030 | Outyear | 0.0 |
| FY2031 | Outyear | 0.0 |

> 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 | 10.2 | — |
| House NDAA (HASC) | 10.2 | +0.0 |
| Senate NDAA (SASC) | 10.2 | +0.0 |
| House Approps (HAC-D) | 10.2 | +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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 657104 | MILSATCOM Space Modernization Initiative (SMI) | 1.0 | 13.6 | 10.2 | −25% |

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

### Project 657104 — MILSATCOM Space Modernization Initiative (SMI)

The Space Modernization Initiative (SMI) evolves current and future SATCOM systems to develop a more affordable and resilient integrated enterprise capable of meeting near-term and emerging requirements. SMI will demonstrate technologies and Concepts of Operations (CONOPS) supporting the Protected Anti-jam Tactical SATCOM (PATS) family-of-systems capability that provides tactical-level military SATCOM (MILSATCOM) users protected, anti-jam SATCOM while operating in a contested environment. PATS is an integrated approach that includes the Protected Tactical Satellite Communications (PTS) and Protected Tactical Enterprise Service (PTES) programs to mitigate adversarial jamming effects by using the Protected Tactical Waveform (PTW). For this effort, SMI includes the Air Force - Army Anti-Jam Modem (A3M) to develop PTW-capable modems, providing high throughput and enhanced anti-jam capability in benign and contested environments. Finally, Global Broadcast Service (GBS) functionality will be added to the PATS modems. GBS implements a worldwide high-capacity satellite broadcast information system to provide a continuous, one-way, high-speed, high-volume flow of classified and unclassified intelligence products (full motion video, imagery, data) to garrisoned, deployed or moving forces. This program falls within the Satellite Communications (SATCOM) mission area which provides the space and dedicated ground architecture required to securely transport wideband, narrowband, tactical, and strategic satellite communications, including USSF-funded SATCOM terminals and commercial SATCOM activities.

| Activity (R-2A) | FY2025 | FY2026 | FY2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Global Broadcast Service (GBS) | 1.0 | 13.6 | 10.2 |

> 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Other / unspecified | 100% | 10.2 |

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

## Mission & acquisition strategy

The Space Modernization Initiative (SMI) evolves current and future SATCOM systems to develop a more affordable and resilient integrated enterprise capable of meeting near-term and emerging requirements. SMI will demonstrate technologies and Concepts of Operations (CONOPS) supporting the Protected Anti-jam Tactical SATCOM (PATS) family-of-systems capability that provides tactical-level military SATCOM (MILSATCOM) users protected, anti-jam SATCOM while operating in a contested environment.

The Space Force will utilize existing contracts to the fullest extent possible for all updates necessary. Those contracts include: GBS receive suite contracts for terminal integration; GBS architecture sustaining engineering contract for SBM updates; and an existing service level agreement with the 520th Software Engineering Squadron (SWES) for receive suite and SBM software updates. GBS Protected Tactical Waveform (PTW) Small Form Factor (SFF) development to leverage the Air Force - Army Anti-Jam Modem (A3M) crypto capability, which was used to develop three receive-only, NSA TRANSEC compliant modem, to meet the C3LB mandate requiring the use of PTW for TRANSEC.

## Related program elements

- [0303142A — SATCOM Ground Environment (SPACE)](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0303142A) (Army)
- [0605330A — C2 Transport](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0605330A) (Army)
- [1206433SF — WGS Space Systems Resiliency Upgrade](https://hitchintel.com/programs/1206433SF) (Space Force)
- [0305236F — Common Data Link (CDL)](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0305236F) (Air Force)

## Source & machine access

- **Source:** FY2027 Department of the Air Force RDT&E Budget Justification, Exhibits R-2/R-3, PE 1206431SF (PB PB2027); FY2027 NDAA committee marks (as of 2026-07-27).
- **MCP:** `mcp.hitchintel.com` — `budget_get_program_element(pe="1206431SF")`.

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