# Space Communication/ Positioning, Navigation & Timing Technologies

**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/a1  
**Parent:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/1206601SF/624846

## Summary

This activity requests $23.8M in FY2027, 59% of project 624846, up 9.0% 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: -Support field demonstrations and on-orbit experiments to characterize the interaction of communication, and position, navigation, and timing signals between the multi-layer, multi-function architectures in contested environments and exercise potential concept of operations. -Build on efforts to leverage Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning (AI/ML) to further enable the ability of the United States Space Force to provide Position, Navigation, and Timing Situational Awareness (PNT-SA) to the warfighter. -Continue to conduct experimentation with networking and interoperability of laser comm to enable support to mission partners. -Explore spectrum diversity capabilities for communications and PNT, continuing to look at radio frequency communication above V/W band. -Address outstanding S&T questions associated with operational viability of V/W band comms. Complete: -Space qualification of the advanced clock for Low Earth Orbit (LEO); transition to acquisition orgs and other commercial partners. -Development and initial characterization of Laser Comm ground station at Kirtland Air Force Base (KAFB) as a part of the Laser Communications Laboratory. -Efforts on ensemble algorithms, as well as Photonic Integrated Circuits (PICs) for Space Communication, Positioning, Navigation, & Timing (SCPNT). Commence: -Develop and support cross-agency collaborations on Space Communications and Position, Navigation, Timing. -Characterization, testing, and research to enable PNT-comms convergence; also, continue to evaluate new concepts for this convergence and do associated analysis to validate concepts and characterize feasibility. -Explore novel approaches to networking for space data transport and the tactical comms edge -Coordination with industry/commercial partners to develop pathways to space qualification of precision clocks for MEO, GEO applications -Build on existing analysis to support methods for providing PNT for the SSV; work to design space flight experiment to characterize solution space. -Evaluate the operational feasibility and technical viability of next efforts to provide agile, robust, and resilient Satellite Navigation capabilities for the Joint Force and within the SSV. -Evaluation of and associated research on methods, techniques, technologies for enabling precision time keeping, time synchronization, and time dissemination to/from space and within the SSV for DoW applications. -Capture enterprise needs and explore technology solutions that enable modern approaches to trust, security, encryption, and key dissemination for future military Satellite Communication and Position, Navigation, Timing.

**FY2026 to FY2027 change.** FY 2027 increased compared to FY 2026 by $1.962 million due to increased in-house research support to Space Communications/Positioning, Navigation, & Timing Technologies, adequately aligning manpower to priority DAF S&T efforts. Resources were realigned from Project 621010, Space Survivability & Surveillance, Space Environment Research effort.

## Before the request year

**FY2026 plans — current year.** Continue: -Developing low probability of intercept and low probably of detection (LPI/LPD), high bandwidth, multi-domain communications for contested and denied environments to include Positioning, Navigation, & Timing (PNT) dissemination with GPS and other systems. -Advancing Laser Communications Laboratory for laser comms & interoperability supporting research and development of Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning (AI/ML) enhancements to PNT architecture to enhance joint warfighting capabilities. -Supporting field demonstrations and on-orbit experiments to examine the interaction of communication, position, navigation, and timing signals between the multi-layer, multi-function architectures in contested environments and exercise potential Concept of Operations. -Developing enabling technologies and demonstration units to enhance the transition path for advanced clocks and time dissemination. -Developing of ensemble algorithms, as well as Photonic Integrated Circuits (PICs) for Space Communication, Positioning, Navigation, & Timing (SCPNT). -Utilizing the fielding of quantum-based technologies and testing in relevant environments. -Collaborating with international partners in the development of quantum-based technologies to leverage allied funding and capabilities. -Exploration of through-atmosphere radio frequency communication above V/W band.

## Funding

| Fiscal Year | Estimate Type | Amount ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | Actual | 26.2 |
| FY2026 | Enacted | 21.8 |
| FY2027 | Request | 23.8 |

> 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

- [Missile Warning and Tactical Sensing](https://hitchintel.com/programs/1206601SF/624846/a0) — FY2027 16.4

## 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.*