Special Tactics / Combat Control

Mission — ST System Development source

Mission Description and Budget Item Justification Special Tactics (ST) is a human-based weapon system, comprised of both human and equipment capabilities formulated to provide the Air Force and Joint Force with support across the following missions: Global Access, Precision Strike, and Personnel Recovery (PR); with additional focus on Electromagnetic Spectrum Operations (EMSO), Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), and Ground-based Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD). ST is employed by Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) across three distinct operator specialties: Combat Control, Pararescue, and Special Reconnaissance. ST, along with the Guardian Angel and Tactical Air Control Party (TACP) weapon systems, collectively make up Air Force Special Warfare (AFSPECWAR), formerly known as Battlefield Airmen. Special Warfare Acquisition, Growth and Refresh (SWAGR) is the program of record to develop, integrate, test, procure and field the latest technology and equipment across a wide range of capabilities to ensure AFSPECWAR ST operators can achieve the mission sets outlined above. Specifically, SWAGR delivers modernized capability in the areas of body-worn hardware/software, tactical communications, ground mobility, small UAS, visual augmentation, maritime, special reconnaissance, technical recovery, and assault zones. Funding will provide for continued software development and modernization of the body-worn kit to enhance situational awareness, communication, information management, and airpower integration for ST operators in the battlespace. These enhancements will improve the ability recognize, identify, range, nominate, and designate targets during both day and night operations. Improvements will also significantly reduce the time required to find, track, fix targets, and engage the enemy by attacking adversary signals of interest, providing highly accurate target grid coordinates in three dimensions, generating target imagery both pre- and post-strike, and transmitting target data to Command and Control centers. Funding will also provide for the development and test of emerging technology, and the integration of the latest mature technology into the ST weapon system to conduct mission essential tasks such as improving support to Global Access (through Assault Zone operations and surveys), Precision Strike, PR, Counter-Space, Counter-UAS Operations, Ground-based SEAD, EMSO (to include awareness/defensive/offensive capabilities), and any other ST capability needs. Funding will also support innovation activities to include industry technology demonstrations, prototypes, studies, analyses, engineering support, and requirements definition to accelerate technology transition into future acquisition programs. Due to the rapidly changing threat environment, the acquisition program manager has the authority to redirect funding as necessary to meet current slated and emerging requirements. FY26 funding ($9.622M) for BA 07 0408011F was transferred to BA 07 Project 0207457F. This program element may include necessary civilian pay expenses required to manage, execute, and deliver weapon system capability. The use of such program funds would be in addition to the civilian pay expenses budgeted in program element 0605829F, 0605831F, 0605833F, or 0605898F. In FY 2024 1.320M was expended for civilian pay expenses in this program element, and in FY 2025 1.488M is forecast for civilian pay expenses in this program element. This program is in Budget Activity 7, Operational System Development because this budget activity includes development efforts to upgrade systems that have been fielded or have received approval for full rate production and anticipate production funding in the current or subsequent fiscal year.

Accomplishments & Planned Programs (1)