# Propulsion Integration and Demonstration

**R-2A activity** of project 634922 — Space & Missile Rocket Propulsion  
**Program element:** 1206616SF — Space Advanced Technology Development/Demo  
**Component:** U.S. Space Force · **Budget Activity:** 3  
**Vintage:** President's Budget PB2027  
**Canonical URL:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/1206616SF/634922/a1  
**Parent:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/1206616SF/634922

## Summary

This activity requests $17.6M in FY2027, 100% of project 634922, up 5.3% 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: -Develop, demonstrate and transition experimental, modeling, simulation, and theoretical efforts for advanced thruster development with emphasis on flight logistics and thruster lifetimes for rapid and agile design of spacecraft propulsion options. Activities include development of models for total on-orbit asset lifetime based on propulsion system data. -Analysis and development of multimode propulsion opportunities by combining high efficiency and high thrust capabilities on a common propellant. Activities include analysis and development on in-space thrusters utilizing common propellant. -Flight-weight design and development of multi-mode propulsion flight system combining capabilities of chemical and electric propulsion thrusters utilizing a single common propellant by delivery of flight chemical propulsion hardware for on-orbit demonstration. Activities include development, testing, and demonstration of flight-weight chemical propulsion hardware. -Design and development of high-power electric propulsion thrusters by validation of flight weight cathode for enhanced maneuver capability. Activities include development and testing of flight weight cathode for integration into full multi-mode propulsion system. -Development of modular propulsion architectures via integration and transition of new propulsion technology with greater flexibility of on-orbit logistics options for USSF spacecraft. Activities include integrated testing of modular propulsion elements across multi-user system architectures. -Evaluation of launch capability with commercial partners and demonstration opportunities in manufacturing processes of engines, vehicle and related systems in active prototype and development supporting military utility. Activities include active prototyping and testing of commercially manufactured thrusters, components, and engines for use in military missions. Complete: -Thrust scale-up effort for advanced non-toxic propellant for electric propulsion and monopropellant thrusters in a multimode propulsion capability. Activities include verification and validation of thermal modes of flight weight thrusters and cheater integration operations. -Coordination of technology transition opportunities to manage technology insertion and evaluate capabilities through maturation of prototype flight hardware design using Public Private Partnerships to maximize government infrastructure to benefit vehicle and engine development. Activities include: scale-up to flight weight and testing of prototype hardware in partnership with industry for incorporation into modular flight weight systems.

**FY2026 to FY2027 change.** FY 2027 increased compared to FY 2026 by $0.883 million due to increased cost of components, chemical propellants, and engine manufacturing associated with ground and flight testing capabilities.

## Before the request year

**FY2026 plans — current year.** Continue: - Develop, demonstrate and transition experimental, modeling and simulation, and theoretical efforts for advanced thruster development with emphasis flight logistics and thruster lifetimes for rapid and agile design of spacecraft propulsion options. - Analysis and development of multimode propulsion opportunities by combining high efficiency and high thrust capabilities on a common propellant. - thrust scale-up effort for advanced non-toxic propellant for electric propulsion and monopropellant thrusters in a multimode propulsion capability with validation of thermal modes of flight weight thrusters and cheater integration operations. - Flight-weight design and development of multi-mode propulsion flight system combining capabilities of chemical and electric propulsion thrusters utilizing a single common propellant by delivery of flight chemical propulsion hardware for on-orbit demonstration. - Design and development of high-power electric propulsion thrusters by validation of flight weight cathode for enhanced maneuver capability. - Development of modular propulsion architectures via integration and transition of new propulsion technology with greater flexibility of on-orbit logistics options for USSF spacecraft. Commence: - Evaluation of launch capability with commercial partners and demonstration opportunities in manufacturing processes of engines, vehicle and related systems in active prototype and development supporting military utility. - Coordination of technology transition opportunities to manage technology insertion and evaluate capabilities through maturation of prototype flight hardware design using Public Private Partnerships to maximize government infrastructure to benefit vehicle and engine development.

## Funding

| Fiscal Year | Estimate Type | Amount ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | Actual | 12.6 |
| FY2026 | Enacted | 16.7 |
| FY2027 | Request | 17.6 |

> 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.

## Other activities in project 634922

- Space Access Propulsion Technologies — FY2027 0.0

## Source & machine access

- **Source:** FY2027 Department of the Air Force RDT&E Budget Justification, Exhibit R-2A, PE 1206616SF project 634922 (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.*