# Tech Transition (Space) — Program Element 1206458SF

**Program element:** 1206458SF  
**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/1206458SF

## Summary

U.S. Space Force funding falls 23% to a $241.1M request in FY2027 (down from a FY2026 peak). In the FY2027 defense authorization, the House funded it in full; the Senate funded it in full; House appropriators funded it in full. Northrop Grumman leads the industry work.

## Funding profile

| Fiscal Year | Estimate Type | Amount ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | Actual | 196.5 |
| FY2026 | Enacted | 313.7 |
| FY2027 | Request | 241.1 |
| FY2028 | Outyear | 187.2 |
| FY2029 | Outyear | 160.1 |
| FY2030 | Outyear | 163.0 |
| FY2031 | Outyear | 166.3 |

> 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 | 241.1 | — |
| House NDAA (HASC) | 241.1 | +0.0 |
| Senate NDAA (SASC) | 241.1 | +0.0 |
| House Approps (HAC-D) | 241.1 | +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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 649493 | Resilient Architecture Design and Evaluation | 58.5 | 104.2 | 220.5 | +112% |
| 64S444 | Experimentation (Space) | 138.1 | 209.5 | 20.5 | −90% |

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

### Project 649493 — Resilient Architecture Design and Evaluation

The Resilient Architecture Design and Evaluation project conducts experimentation within an interconnected hybrid satellite communication (SATCOM) architecture to validate the performance, scalability and resilience of providing the Joint Force with multiple separate communications paths. To achieve these resiliency gains, the hybrid network requires 1) on-demand management of multi-band, multi-orbit DoW, allied and commercial data links; and 2) management and control capabilities to orchestrate paths through the space and ground networks. The effort validates the "Resilience by Design” approach in the Space Warfighting Analysis Center (SWAC) Space Data Transport Force Design recommendations through a combination of 1) modeling and simulation; 2) hardware- and software-in-the-loop analysis; and 3) terrestrial and on-orbit demonstration. The project leverages Hybrid SATCOM terminal prototyping in the Experimentation (Space) project along with direct relationships with commercial terrestrial and space data transport providers to demonstrate dynamic networking, understand commercial offerings, assess security and resiliency, and jump-start future acquisition approaches that enable a pivot to a more resilient architecture. In addition to creating an experimental hybrid space network to meet DoW's unique resiliency, security, and scalability needs for broadband transport, the effort also quantifies the suitability of commercial 5G Non-terrestrial Networks (NTN) and other frequencies for a subset of current Ultra High Frequency (UHF) users while prototyping next-gen UHF technologies for the core users who need to stay on UHF. This will provide improved capacity, performance, security, and resiliency for dismounted disadvantaged user. Finally, the effort looks to understand how such a hybrid space network can support mission services for multi-domain sensing, Positioning Navigation and Timing (PNT), and space control.

| Activity (R-2A) | FY2025 | FY2026 | FY2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Resilient Architecture Design and Evaluation | 58.5 | 104.2 | 220.5 |

> 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 64S444 — Experimentation (Space)

Experimentation (Space), Project 64S444, efforts conduct experimentation and field prototyping of Hybrid Satellite Communications (SATCOM) terminals for Joint operational implementation. In FY 2024 through FY 2028, the Experimentation (Space) efforts will extend Hybrid SATCOM capabilities to an expanded set of Department of War (DoW) platforms, and enable assured communications through both commercial and military satellite constellations in multiple orbital regimes, while accessing multiple frequency bands to maintain resilient connectivity and security. The Hybrid SATCOM terminal effort implements and experimentally flight tests multi-band, multi-constellation, multi-orbit SATCOM terminals at three ground installations and on nine different aircraft types. Specific platforms and platform details are available through proper channels. The Project also demonstrates the ability of Hybrid SATCOM terminals to seamlessly switch between vendors and satellite constellations. The Hybrid SATCOM terminal prototyping will include secure connectivity using National Security Agency-approved approaches, and authority approvals at least to the interim levels needed for experimentation as required for DoW communications.

**Named R-3 performers** (share of this project's FY2027 R-3 total, so they need not reach 100%)**:** Northrop Grumman (4.0, 19%), L3Harris (2.3, 11%), GTRI (1.8, 8.8%), MIT/LL (1.0, 4.9%).

| Activity (R-2A) | FY2025 | FY2026 | FY2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Experimentation Space | 138.1 | 209.5 | 20.5 |

> 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 | 3.8% | 9.1 |
| Government labs & warfare centers | 1.6% | 4.0 |
| Other / unspecified | 95% | 228.1 |

**Top named industry performers:** .

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

## Mission & acquisition strategy

The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) is demonstrating and prototyping Tech Transition (Space) program (Projects 649493, 64S444) for Guardians across Satellite Communications enterprise. As a result, the Service will streamline capabilities development through institutional processes and improve readiness and operational reach of existing force structure. The Tech Transition (Space) Program addresses the gaps between United States Space Force (USSF) Force Design activities, initial system-level technology or concept development and demonstration, and successful acquisition and operational capability implementation.

The AFRL at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico manages and executes Resilient Architecture Design and Evaluation effort following the existing internetworking experimentation acquisition strategy. Baseline modeling and simulation and hardware-/software-in-the-loop development and experimentation is primarily conducted by a government team of Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDCs) and Service Laboratories to avoid vendor lock-in or reduced competition from industry.

## Related program elements

- [0604336F — Prototyping](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0604336F) (Air Force)
- [1203955SF — Space Access, Mobility & Logistics (SAML)](https://hitchintel.com/programs/1203955SF) (Space Force)
- [1203173SF — R&D Space & Missile Operations](https://hitchintel.com/programs/1203173SF) (Space Force)
- [0605602A — Army Technical Test Instrumentation and Targets](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0605602A) (Army)

## Source & machine access

- **Source:** FY2027 Department of the Air Force RDT&E Budget Justification, Exhibits R-2/R-3, PE 1206458SF (PB PB2027); FY2027 NDAA committee marks (as of 2026-07-27).
- **MCP:** `mcp.hitchintel.com` — `budget_get_program_element(pe="1206458SF")`.

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