# Space Systems Operational Test and Evaluation (OT&E)

**R-2A activity** of project 660191 — 660191 - Space Systems Operational Test & Eval  
**Program element:** 1206759SF — Major T&E Investment - Space  
**Component:** U.S. Space Force · **Budget Activity:** 6  
**Vintage:** President's Budget PB2027  
**Canonical URL:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/1206759SF/660191/a0  
**Parent:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/1206759SF/660191

## Summary

This activity requests $60.6M in FY2027, 100% of project 660191, up 45% 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.** Evolved Strategic Satellite Communications (ESS): Conduct Developmental & Operational (Integrated) Testing COBRA DANE: Conduct Cyber Test Future Operationally Resilient Ground Evolution (FORGE): Conduct Software Acquisition Pathway & cyber test Next Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared - Geosynchronous: Conduct IT&E and cyber test Resilient Missile Warning/Missile Track Epoch 1 & 2: Conduct Test for Epoch 1 and cyber and physical penetration test Long Range Discrimination Radar (LRDR): Conduct FOT&E/Sustainment test Upgraded Early Warning Radar (UEWR): Conduct Sustainment test (5 sites) Perimeter Attack and Characterization System (PARCS): Conduct Sustainment test Ground Based Optical Sensor System - Maui: Conduct FOT&E Ground Based Optical Sensor System - Socorro: Conduct FOT&E Ground Based Optical Sensor System - Diego Garcia: Conduct FOT&E Relay Ground Station - Asia: Conduct IOT&E and FOT&E Joint Tactical Ground System: Conduct Sustainment test (all sites) Deep Space Advanced Radar Capability (DARC): Conduct IOT&E and FOT&E (Site 1) Resilient Electro-Optical (REO): Conduct IOT&E RRS-G (including AMTI): Conduct IOT&E Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture Tranche 1-3 (including AMTI): Conduct Operational Assessments IRIS: Conduct IOT&E Quasi-Zenith Satellite System - Hosted Payload (QZSS-HP): Conduct IOT&E Defensive Cyber Operations for Space (DCO-S): Conduct IOT&E Military GPS User Equipment: Conduct IOT&E GPS Next Generation Control Segment: Conduct MOT&E Missile Defense System (MDS): Conduct MOT&E Proliferated Warfighter Satellite Architecture (PWSA) - Tranche 2,3,4: Conduct OT&E Next-Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared (Next-Gen OPIR): Conduct FDE (MCA) Presidential and National Voice Conferencing: Conduct FOT&E Protected Tactical Enterprise Service: Conduct Multi-Service Operational Test and Evaluation (MOT&E) Protected Tactical Satcom: Conduct MOT&E(MTA) Space Based Infrared System: Conduct FOT&E Space Data Network: Support IOT&E SBIRS Survivable Endurable Evolution (S2E2): Conduct FDE Wideband Global SATCOM -11 (WGS-11): Conduct Operational Utility Evaluation (OUE) Conduct other planning and operational testing for new space system programs as the requirement becomes known to USSF

**FY2026 to FY2027 change.** FY 2027 increase of 18.949M will provide technical and administrative support required to execute classified space-related testing, integrated systems end-to-end testing, expanded management requirements to support the programs at Delta and Headquarters (HQ) levels, and evaluate activities intended to prepare Guardians for near-peer competition on timelines directed by the Secretary of the Air Force, and the Chief of Space Operations. The funding increase will also establish USSF Cyber survivability test teams and associated test unit to support the sustained increased USSF weapon system fieldlings

## Before the request year

**FY2026 plans — current year.** Continue FY 25 Activities, namely: Advanced Tracking Launch Analysis System: Conduct IOT&E Deep Space Advanced Radar Capability (DARC): Conduct IOT&E Enhanced Polar System - Recapitalization: Conduct IOT&E Evolved Strategic SATCOM (ESS): Conduct MTA Family of Beyond Line-of-Site Terminals (FAB-T): Conduct IOT&E, Conduct FOT&E Force Element Terminal: Prepare for IOT&E Future Operational Resilient Ground Evolution (FORGE): Conduct MTA GPS IIIF: Conduct early influence Mobile AEHF Terminal: Conduct operations demonstration IRIS: Conduct IOT&E Military GPS User Equipment: Conduct IOT&E GPS Next Generation Control Segment: Conduct MOT&E Missile Defense System (MDS): Conduct MOT&E Proliferated Warfighter Satellite Architecture (PWSA) - Tranche 2,3,4: Conduct OT&E Next-Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared (Next-Gen OPIR): Conduct FDE (MCA) Presidential and National Voice Conferencing: Conduct FOT&E Protected Tactical Satcom: Conduct IOT&E(MTA) Space Based Infrared System: Conduct FOT&E SBIRS Survivable Endurable Evolution (S2E2): Conduct FDE SpaceFence: Plan and design for OT&E Conduct other planning and operational testing for new space system programs as the requirement becomes known to USSF.

## Funding

| Fiscal Year | Estimate Type | Amount ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | Actual | 51.6 |
| FY2026 | Enacted | 41.7 |
| FY2027 | Request | 60.6 |

> 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 1206759SF project 660191 (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.*