# Missile Warning and Tactical Sensing

**R-2A activity** of project 624846 — Spacecraft Payload Technologies  
**Program element:** 1206601SF — Space Technology  
**Component:** U.S. Space Force · **Budget Activity:** 2  
**Vintage:** President's Budget PB2027  
**Canonical URL:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/1206601SF/624846/a0  
**Parent:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/1206601SF/624846

## Summary

This activity requests $16.4M in FY2027, 41% of project 624846, up 16% 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.** Continue: -Space-based sensors for resilient target custody by target tracking space architectures. -Data analytics and data mobility solutions for edge processing, information networking, and human-machine learning in support of tactical sensing and targeting. -Trusted Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) Models, through AI Assurance, for autonomous classification and identification of moving targets in support of multi- domain battlefield operations. -Development of next generation infrared detector materials that have the potential of offering higher performance. -Novel sensing concepts for space-based Moving Target Engagement (MTE) at scale in time sensitive, highly contested environments. -Focal Plane Array (FPA) research, development, and construction using novel detector material and obtain statistically significant performance characterization data product to compare with incumbent technologies. -Testing of noise properties of smaller mixed signal nodes, vital to transistor densities required for Launch Detection Missile Warning (MW), Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR), and alike space-based mission sets. -Effort to transition Event Based Sensors (EBS) to program offices based on results from FY 2026 characterization & testing. -Design and laboratory testing of concepts for space-based sensing payloads. -Development of dedicated space-based sensors and sensemaking data analytics for trusted, real-time, multi-domain Moving Target Indication (MTI) by networked automated Long-Range Kill Webs (LRKW). Complete: -Sensing system networking optimized for space-based autonomous tasking and MTI from multi-tiered hybrid space architectures. Commence: -Study of military utility for Infrared Event Based Sensors (IR EBS) based on results of FY26 IR EBS research. -Integrate Trusted AI into Moving Target Indication (MTI) work flows. -Characterization of multiple dynamic range sensing solutions architectures for air and space missions.

**FY2026 to FY2027 change.** FY 2027 increased compared to FY 2026 by $2.256 million due to increased in-house research support to Missile Warning and Tactical Sensing, adequately aligning manpower to priority DAF S&T efforts.

## Before the request year

**FY2026 plans — current year.** Continue research and development of: -Space-based sensors for resilient target custody by target tracking space architectures. -Data analytics and data mobility solutions for edge processing, information networking, and human-machine learning in support of tactical sensing and targeting. -Trusted Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) Models, through AI Assurance, for autonomous classification and identification of moving targets in support of multi- domain battlefield operations. -Sensing system networking optimized for space-based autonomous tasking and Moving Target Indication (MTI) from multi-tiered hybrid space architectures. -Development of next generation infrared detector materials that have the potential of offering higher performance. -Novel sensing concepts for space-based Moving Target Engagement (MTE) at scale in time sensitive, highly contested environments. -Focal Plane Arrays research, development, and construction using novel detector material and obtain statistically significant performance characterization data product to compare with incumbent technologies. -Testing of noise properties of smaller mixed signal nodes, vital to transistor densities required for Launch Detection Missile Warning (MW), Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR), and alike space-based mission sets. -Effort to transition Event Based Sensors (EBS) to program offices based on results from FY 2025 characterization & testing. -Design and laboratory testing of concepts for space-based sensing payloads. -Development of dedicated space-based sensors and sensemaking data analytics for trusted, real-time, multi-domain Moving Target Indicator (MTI) by networked automated Long-Range Kill Webs (LRKW). Complete: -Build and characterization of high dynamic range low read-noise. Focal Plane Arrays (FPA) specialized Air Force/Space Force demo program with results to be leveraged on Space Systems Command (SSC) EPOCH-2 & Space Development Agency (SDA) Tranche-1 activities.

## Funding

| Fiscal Year | Estimate Type | Amount ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | Actual | 14.2 |
| FY2026 | Enacted | 14.1 |
| FY2027 | Request | 16.4 |

> 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 624846

- [Space Communication/ Positioning, Navigation & Timing Technologies](https://hitchintel.com/programs/1206601SF/624846/a1) — FY2027 23.8

## Source & machine access

- **Source:** FY2027 Department of the Air Force RDT&E Budget Justification, Exhibit R-2A, PE 1206601SF project 624846 (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.*