# Demonstrations/Prototypes

**R-2A activity** of project 657009 — Space Mod Initiative  
**Program element:** 1206442SF — Next Generation OPIR  
**Component:** U.S. Space Force · **Budget Activity:** 5  
**Vintage:** President's Budget PB2027  
**Canonical URL:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/1206442SF/657009/a0  
**Parent:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/1206442SF/657009

## Summary

This activity requests $38.5M in FY2027, 21% of project 657009, down 18% 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.** The flagship investment for SMI Demonstrations in FY 2026 matures into FY 2027 as the orbital vehicles manufactured by K2 Space complete integration and are launched into MEO. The current plan is to test Space Development Agency (SDA) v4.0 optical crosslinks in orbit from multiple orbital vehicles in MEO and in a higher orbit (in collaboration and coordination with SDA and other mission partners) two years ahead of the planned launch of MW/MT Epoch 2. Space-to-space, space-to-ground, and high-throughput long-distance communication links will be tested. In addition, the current plan includes integration of a low-cost on orbit Overhead Persistent Infrared (OPIR) sensor to pathfind high-throughput optical data pathways, to act as a pathfinder for on-orbit track fusion algorithms in collaboration with Wide Field of View (WFOV) and provide residual mission capability. Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory's Agamotto Event Based Sensor (AEBS), launched in FY 2026 in collaboration with a mission partner, will yield data in FY2027 for detailed analysis, enabling the true evaluation of this sensor capability across a breadth of mission profiles. Further investment will continue in orbital demonstration and prototyping of novel sensor types, including Mid-Long Wave Infrared sensors, Event Based Cameras, High Dynamic Range (HDR) sensors, hyperspectral, and Middle Ultraviolet sensors to enable cold-target tracking with a design for rapid iteration and implementation. Space Modernization Initiative (SMI) will continue to seeking partnership and rideshare opportunities to demo on-orbit capability and reduce risk for Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) Missile Warning/Missile Tracking (MW/MT) Epoch 3 and future systems. SMI will demonstrate ground architectures to inform the requirements process that enable resilient, proliferated capabilities such as phased array antennas (one such effort is with ThinKom), optical ground terminals, and other low-cost solutions. This thrust will also explore Ground Station as a Service (GSaaS) demonstration opportunities.

**FY2026 to FY2027 change.** FY 2027 decreased due to realignment of funds from the Demos thrust to the Tech Mat thrust to optimize mission investments.

## Before the request year

**FY2026 plans — current year.** Test and demonstrate Low Size Weight and Power (SWaP), high bandwidth, agile crosslinks for MEO MW/MT Epoch 2 as the FY 2026 flagship investment for SMI Demonstrations. Deliver the necessary technical data to inform Epoch 2 of viable implementation paths, provide prototype hardware for on-orbit demonstrations, and reduce risk to the FY 2028 launch and Initial Warfighting Capability. Exploit early development of novel MW/MT phenomenologies to prove feasibility for cold target tracking. Transition Mid-Long Wave Infrared sensors, Event Based Cameras, and Middle Ultraviolet sensors into integrated demonstrations with mission partners to prove new capabilities are ready to onboard into MEO MW/MT Epoch 3. These technologies are aimed to close a capabilities gap in traditional infrared missile tracking.

## Funding

| Fiscal Year | Estimate Type | Amount ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | Actual | 30.4 |
| FY2026 | Enacted | 46.8 |
| FY2027 | Request | 38.5 |

> 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 657009

- [Data Processing & Analytics](https://hitchintel.com/programs/1206442SF/657009/a2) — FY2027 78.1
- [Technology Maturation](https://hitchintel.com/programs/1206442SF/657009/a1) — FY2027 24.6
- [Capability Exploitation](https://hitchintel.com/programs/1206442SF/657009/a4) — FY2027 20.0
- [Wide Field of View (WFOV) On-Orbit Testbed Mission Integration](https://hitchintel.com/programs/1206442SF/657009/a3) — FY2027 18.2

## Source & machine access

- **Source:** FY2027 Department of the Air Force RDT&E Budget Justification, Exhibit R-2A, PE 1206442SF project 657009 (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.*