# Capability Exploitation

**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/a4  
**Parent:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/1206442SF/657009

> **NEW START.** $20.0M requested in FY2027 with no prior-year and no current-year funding.

## Summary

This activity requests $20.0M in FY2027, 11% of project 657009 — a new start with no prior-year and no current-year money. The R-2A exhibit describes it across FY2027, including what the FY2027 money is planned to buy.

## What the FY2027 request buys

**FY2027 planned work.** Capability Exploitation is a new start. In FY 2027, Capability Exploitation will operationalize the first transition of an Space Modernization Initiative (SMI)-derived effort into this construct through the ThinKom phased array antenna initiative. Originally launched to rapidly demonstrate and inform requirements for the Resilient Ground Architecture (RGA), this effort evolved into a more operationally relevant demonstration with the goal of utility in both Continental United States (CONUS) and Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM) locations. Building on this model, the thrust will mature efforts under the emerging program to leverage the growing availability of commercially hosted platforms, enabling rapid placement of OPIR and MW/MT payloads across diverse space architectures. Additionally, this effort will identify and pursue opportunities to demonstrate Hypersonic Glide Vehicle (HGV) sensing capabilities with the intent to both prove feasibility and leave behind operationally relevant sensor contributions wherever possible. These activities accelerate architectural learning, expand commercially-enabled mission pathways, and reinforce the deliberate design principle of designing a demonstration prototype that can also enable residual operational utility.

**FY2026 to FY2027 change.** FY 2027 increased due to establishment of Capability Exploitation new start.

## Funding

| Fiscal Year | Estimate Type | Amount ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| FY2027 | Request | 20.0 |

> 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
- [Demonstrations/Prototypes](https://hitchintel.com/programs/1206442SF/657009/a0) — FY2027 38.5
- [Technology Maturation](https://hitchintel.com/programs/1206442SF/657009/a1) — FY2027 24.6
- [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.*