# Electro-Optic Space Domain Awareness and Satellite Security

**R-2A activity** of project 624866 — Lasers & Imaging Technology  
**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/624866/a0  
**Parent:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/1206601SF/624866

## Summary

This activity requests $40.6M in FY2027, 100% of project 624866, up 11% 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: - Mature component technologies for 24/7 optical and infrared imaging of near-earth and geosynchronous resident space objects enabling tactically-responsive change detection and characterization to include the detection and tracking of small objects in very-close proximity to high-value geosynchronous assets using ground-based 1-meter-class telescopes. - Analysis for USSPACECOM's Laser Clearing House of the potential vulnerability of satellites to laser and other directed energy illumination arising from Department of War (DoW) components testing to include conducting periodic meetings hosted jointly by DoW and foreign allies to assess the susceptibilities of newly launched satellites. - Development of laser-enabled options for ranging to geosynchronous satellites from sub-3-meter telescopes to include timely characterization of near-geosynchronous satellites -- demonstrate and integrate refined processing algorithms to improve sensitivity. - Development into maintaining custody of spacecraft in complex three-body-gravitational pseudo-orbits from ground-based measurements, such as in cislunar space and Earth-Sun equilibrium zones -- prototype stray-light mitigation improving sensitivity. - Develop a concept of operations for Combat Forces Command missions for real-time imaging of satellites that are in Earth's shadow, to include the integration of components enabling the detection and tracking of satellites in the absence of visible light. - Maintain the Starfire Optical Range (SOR) facilities and experimental equipment in a mission-ready state for both research and development and for use by Combat Forces Command to include enhancing the capability and flexibility of electrical power resilience systems for critical feeders at SOR. - Mature software tools that accurately predict potential hazards to spacecraft from Department of War laser tests -- develop CONOPs for laser class categorization. Complete: - Build-up for the ground-terminal for the quantum-optical network experiment jointly conducted with the Canadian Space Agency's quantum satellite -- launch scheduled in 2026. Commence: - Testing of ground-terminal quantum-optical network experiment with the Canadian Space Agency's quantum satellite -- focus on demonstrating two-way quantum optical communications.

**FY2026 to FY2027 change.** FY 2027 increased compared to FY 2026 by $3.981 million due to costs associated with research to mature highly sensitivity change detection component technologies to expand the mission capability of the Starfire Optical Range experimental equipment.

## Before the request year

**FY2026 plans — current year.** Continue: - Mature component technologies for 24/7 optical and infrared imaging of near-earth and geosynchronous objects enabling characterization on tactical timelines -- transition to Combat Forces Command technique for tracking dim satellites in very-close proximity to large high-value geosynchronous space assets using ground-based 1-meter-class telescopes. - Analysis for USSPACECOM's Laser Clearing House of the potential vulnerability of satellites to laser and other directed energy illumination arising from tests conducted by Department of War (DoW) components to include conduct of periodic meetings hosted jointly with DoW components and foreign allies to assess susceptibilities of recently launched satellites. - Development of laser-enabled options for ranging to geosynchronous satellites from apertures smaller than 3-meters and development of laser-enabled options for characterizing near-geosynchronous satellites -- demonstrate beta-level control software to rapidly select range-bin. - Research into maintaining custody of space craft in three-body-gravitational pseudo-orbits from ground-based measurements, such as in cislunar space and Earth-Sun equilibrium zones -- demonstrate the utility of the Dark Saber unit-one sensor. - Building-up the ground-terminal for the quantum-optical network experiment jointly conducted with the Canadian Space Agency's quantum satellite -- launch scheduled in 2026. - Initiate transition of real-time imaging of satellites that are in Earth's shadow to Combat Forces Command, including joint experimentation to develop a concept of operations for Combat Forces Command missions. - Maintain the Starfire Optical Range (SOR) facilities and experimental equipment in a mission-ready state for both research and development and for use by Combat Forces Command -- begin installation of fast-failover generators to produce electrical power resilience at top of Mount Fugate. - Prototype version of software tools that accurately predict in less than 8-hour runtime potential hazards to spacecraft from Department of War laser tests -- conduct verification and validation tests of performance to demonstrate. Complete: - Development of artificial intelligence to estimate the position and orientation of uncooperative space objects, especially demonstrate the accuracy of tool using observations from 4-meter class, 1-meter class, and 1/2-meter class telescopes. - Tech development of space surveillance using laser-enabled, real-time imaging of satellites that are in Earth's shadow. Transition this capability to Combat Forces Command (CFC)/DEL2/Det2.

## Funding

| Fiscal Year | Estimate Type | Amount ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | Actual | 28.6 |
| FY2026 | Enacted | 36.6 |
| FY2027 | Request | 40.6 |

> 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.

## Source & machine access

- **Source:** FY2027 Department of the Air Force RDT&E Budget Justification, Exhibit R-2A, PE 1206601SF project 624866 (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.*