Space Advanced Technology Development/Demo

Develops and delivers technologies that increase space situational awareness (SSA) capabilities in cislunar space, beyond 10X Geosynchronous Orbit, capable of detecting, tracking and maintaining custody of objects that are challenging to observe using traditional Space Surveillance Network (SSN) transiting in the Earth-Moon corridor.

Operate and upgrade the Maui Space Surveillance System (MSSS) to support development, demonstration, and integration of ground-based optical space domain awareness technologies for use in R&D, as well as for missions conducted by the Space Operations Command DELTA 2/15 Space Surveillance Squadron (SPoC/DEL2/15SPSS).

Develop advanced materials and technologies for spacecraft structures, mission-systems, and payloads to ensure survivability and mission effectiveness from electro-magnetic spectrum threats and hazards. These technologies are applicable to spacecraft at all orbital regimes and supports numerous programs of record (PoRs) spanning multiple government agencies. They are synchronized with related air-domain efforts executed in 3600: Research, Development, Test & Evaluation, Air Force; Program 0603112F/Advanced Materials for Weapon Systems, Project 632100/Laser Hardened Materials.

Develop and transition technologies to reduce cost and improve acquisition timelines through manufacturing innovations of advanced technologies for Department of the Air Force space and multi-domain applications.

SpaceWERX Orbital Prime will transition agile, affordable, and accelerated space capabilities, reducing risk to the global commons to rapidly field In-space Servicing, Assembly, Manufacturing (ISAM) capabilities.

Develop, provide, and leverage agile software development platforms and pipelines that support pain point identification and rapid software application prototyping, operational evaluation, operator/Guardian effectiveness, and certification in support of USSF operators in collaboration with commercial partners.

Provide modeling, simulation, and analysis for technology evolution in space-based terrestrial surveillance systems, precision navigation and timing, space domain awareness, satellite communications, space environment monitoring, and space control payloads.

In the FY 2024 appropriation and FY 2025 enactment, the USSF S&T Vanguard efforts and associated activities, including Rocket Cargo and NTS-3, were Congressionally directed transferred from RDT&E, AF, PE 603020F, Future AF Integrated Technology Demos to PE 1206616SF, Space Advanced Technology Development/Demo, Project 633834, Integrated Space Technology Demonstrations. In FY 2026, the Navigation Technology Satellite (NTS-3) effort and associated funding will transfer within this Program Element to Project 630321, Space Warfighter Technologist Capabilities, to provide increased transparency and traceability of USSF S&T Vanguard and WARTECH efforts and activities.

In the FY 2024 appropriation and FY 2025 enactment, the USSF S&T Vanguard efforts and associated activities, including Rocket Cargo and Navigation Technology Satellite 3 (NTS-3), were Congressionally directed transferred from RDT&E, AF, PE 603020F, Future AF Integrated Technology Demos to PE 1206616SF, Space Advanced Technology Development/Demo, Project 633834, Integrated Space Technology Demonstrations. In FY 2026, the Rocket Cargo effort and associated funding transferred within this Program Element to Project 630321, Space Warfighter Technologist Capabilities, to provide increased transparency and traceability of USSF S&T Vanguard and WARTECH efforts and activities. The Vanguard, Rocket Cargo, is a Science and Technology (S&T) effort to leverage the multi-billion dollars of commercial investments in large reusable launch vehicles to extend the commercial rocket capabilities and create a novel DOD solution for global reach. DAF S&T efforts and resources are focused on the specific areas that are unique to military transport applications. The S&T objective is to determine the viability, performance, military utility, and business case of the commercial rocket capability. Potential investigation activities will include detailed mission and cost analyses, investigation of the harsh rocket plume interactions with landing surfaces, evaluation of rocket landing capabilities at austere sites, and human factors at landing sites. Investments will also determine the ability to airdrop cargo after reentry, will assess in-flight communications to the rocket, will test cargo environments and novel cargo "loadmaster” designs for rapid load/unload, and will evaluate rocket detectability and vulnerability.

In FY 2026, the Transformational Technology Development effort and associated funding will transfer within this Program Element to Project 630321, Space Warfighter Technologist Capabilities, to provide increased transparency and traceability of USSF S&T Vanguard and WARTECH efforts and activities. This effort initiates new and continue existing transformational technology development. The Department of the Air Force (DAF) needs to provide game-changing leap-ahead capabilities to meet future force designs. This effort identifies transformational science and technology investment opportunities through the WARfighter- TECHnologist (WARTECH) process. The WARTECH process enables the DAF enterprise to collaboratively translate future force design priorities and requirements into targeted USSF science and technology investments. WARTECH accelerates capability development and responds to emerging technology opportunities by supporting integrated concept exploration. These investments support activities such as mission thread analyses to demonstrate military utility and software and hardware feasibility assessments. Select efforts will evolve into either a Vanguard Pathfinder to allow for further assessment and maturation or be designated a Vanguard Prospect or Vanguard indicating enterprise-level priority.

Mature space technology and deliver capabilities that deter war, support the joint all-domain fight, and if called upon, dominate conflicts in and from space. Advance technologies to enhance timeliness, performance, capacity, agility, and resilience of US and allied space capabilities for transition to Program Executive Offices and to anchor future force designs. Perform end-to-end space system technology development and experimentation from ground segment development to satellite assembly, integration, and test to support multiple Department of the Air Force mission areas. Leverage first-of-a-kind space system expertise and capabilities to directly support programs across the national security space enterprise, reduce technical risk, and increase return on investment for emerging operational systems.

This effort is not a new start. In FY 2026, the Transformational Technology Development effort and associated funding transferred within this Program Element from Project 633834, Integrated Space Technology Demonstrations to Project 630321, Space Warfighter Technologist Capabilities, to provide increased transparency and traceability of USSF S&T Vanguard and WARTECH efforts and activities. This effort will continue transformational technology development. The Department of the Air Force (DAF) needs to provide game-changing leap-ahead capabilities to meet future force designs. This effort identifies transformational science and technology investment opportunities through the WARfighter- TECHnologist (WARTECH) process. The WARTECH process enables the DAF enterprise to collaboratively translate future force design priorities and requirements into targeted USSF science and technology investments. WARTECH accelerates capability development and responds to emerging technology opportunities by supporting integrated concept exploration. These investments support activities such as mission thread analyses to demonstrate military utility and software and hardware feasibility assessments. Select efforts will evolve into either a Vanguard Pathfinder to allow for further assessment and maturation or be designated a Vanguard Prospect or Vanguard indicating enterprise-level priority.

This effort is not a new start. In FY 2026, the Payload Delivery Systems effort and funding transferred within this Program Element from Project 633834, Integrated Space Technology Demonstrations, sub effort under the Transformational Technology Development effort to Project 630321, Space Warfighter Technologist Capabilities, to provide increased transparency and traceability of USSF S&T Vanguard and WARTECH efforts and activities. The Vanguard Prospect Payload Delivery System is a Spacedrop Demonstration which expands upon the Rocket Cargo Vanguard, which leveraged the multi-billion-dollar commercial investments in large reusable launch vehicles to extend the commercial rocket capabilities and create a novel DOD solution for global reach. While Rocket Cargo S&T explored downmass and cargo delivery via rocket re-entry, this effort will investigate cargo downmass and delivery via capsule spacedrop and re-entry. The re-entry capsule approach has potential for increased cargo mass per launch and a broad diversity of launch solutions from medium-lift to super-heavy lift launch vehicles. The capsule S&T is inherently multi-disciplinary and multi-domain across air and space. Note: This effort is dual funded (USAF and USSF) starting in FY 2026. The scope shown here includes all the scope (both USAF and USSF) as both funding lines contribute to that scope. The funding shown here is only the USSF funding. The USAF funding can be found in USAF PE 0603032F, Future AF Integrated Technology Demos.

This effort is not a new start. In FY 2026, the Navigation Technology Satellite 3 (NTS-3) effort and associated funding transferred within this Program Element from Project 633834, Integrated Space Technology Demonstrations to Project 630321, Space Warfighter Technologist Capabilities, to provide increased transparency and traceability of USSF S&T Vanguard and WARTECH efforts and activities. The Vanguard, Navigation Technology Satellite 3, develops and demonstrates advanced space-based navigation system technologies to provide resilient navigation support in contested environments. The demonstration includes a space-based test vehicle, ground-based enterprise command and control, and agile software defined receivers for the user.

This effort is not a new start. In FY 2026, the Rocket Cargo effort and associated funding transferred within this Program Element from Project 633834, Integrated Space Technology Demonstrations to Project 630321, Space Warfighter Technologist Capabilities, to provide increased transparency and traceability of USSF S&T Vanguard and WARTECH efforts and activities. The Vanguard, Rocket Cargo, is a Science and Technology (S&T) effort to leverage the multi-billion dollars of commercial investments in large reusable launch vehicles to extend the commercial rocket capabilities and create a novel DOD solution for global reach. DAF S&T efforts and resources are focused on the specific areas that are unique to military transport applications. The S&T objective is to determine the viability, performance, military utility, and business case of the commercial rocket capability. Potential investigation activities will include detailed mission and cost analyses, investigation of the harsh rocket plume interactions with landing surfaces, evaluation of rocket landing capabilities at austere sites, and human factors at landing sites. Investments will also determine the ability to airdrop cargo after reentry, will assess in-flight communications to the rocket, will test cargo environments and novel cargo "loadmaster” designs for rapid load/unload, and will evaluate rocket detectability and vulnerability.

Maui Civilian Pay

Develop technologies for next-generation space communications terminals and equipment, along with methods/techniques to enable future space system operational command and control concepts.

Develop and demonstrate liquid rocket propulsion technology for current and future space launch vehicles. Demonstrate technologies and concepts of operation supporting rapid launch capability.

In FY 2026, this effort title changed from "Advanced On-Orbit Propulsion Technologies" to "Propulsion Integration and Demonstration" to better reflect its focus. Develop and demonstrate liquid rocket propulsion technology for current and future space launch vehicles. Demonstrate technologies and concepts of operation supporting space mobility. Develop and demonstrate solar electric, electric, and monopropellant on-orbit propulsion technologies for existing and future satellites, upper stages, orbit transfer vehicles, and satellite maneuvering for Space Power and Resilience. This work is critical to achieve space maneuverability in contested space environments.