Engineering and EOD Equipment

The Engineering and EOD Equipment program, detailed in Line Item 845100 of the Air Force's FY2026 budget request, is designed to procure and sustain a broad range of Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) and engineering capabilities. These capabilities are essential for the Air Force's Integrated Base Response and Recovery (IBRR) and Air Base Resiliency missions, especially in highly contested environments and in support of contingency operations. The program's overarching goal is to ensure installations can rapidly restore operational capacity after disruptive events, ranging from natural disasters to chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear (CBRN), kinetic, and cyber attacks.

A significant objective within this line item is the procurement of EOD Family of Systems (FoS), which enables Air Force EOD personnel to identify, mitigate, and defeat explosive hazards across the full spectrum of operations. The budget supports the acquisition of EOD Unmanned Systems (Small), EOD Ordnance Locator Systems, and EOD Remote Fire Systems. These systems enhance the Air Force's ability to safely address unexploded ordnance (UXO), improvised explosive devices (IEDs), and threats posed by conventional munitions and weapons of mass destruction (WMD).

The program also emphasizes the acquisition of advanced CBRN detection and identification systems. Funding will support procurement of CBRN Radiological Detection Family of Systems, which includes devices such as the Radiological Detection System (RDS) and Radioisotope Identification Device (RIID). These tools provide the capability to measure, identify, geo-locate, and transmit data on radiological and nuclear materials, supporting both force protection and mission continuity in contaminated environments.

Another key objective is the enhancement of air base hardening and rapid recovery capabilities. The budget supports the procurement of Expedient Small Asset Protection (ESAP) hardened shelters, designed to protect fighter aircraft and critical sortie generation equipment from specific munitions. Additionally, the program supports the Rapid Airfield Damage Recovery (RADR) Family of Systems, including Rapid Airfield Damage Assessment Systems (RADAS), Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) matting kits, Aluminum Mat-2 (AM-2) matting kits, and Water and Fuels Expedient Repair System (WaFERS) kits. These systems enable rapid assessment, mitigation, and repair of airfield damage, ensuring continued air operations after attacks or accidents.

The budget also includes funding for tactical communication packages, which are critical for providing command, control, and communication (C3) capabilities to the Air Force Civil Engineer enterprise, supporting both routine and emergency operations. Other notable procurements include Night Vision Devices, EOD Adaptive Basing Kits, Expeditionary Airfield Lighting Systems (EAL-C), and EOD C4I systems. These investments contribute to the operational flexibility and resilience of Air Force installations.

Justification for the increased funding in this line item is closely tied to the operationalization of the Agile Combat Employment (ACE) concept, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region. ACE aims to shift airpower generation from large, centralized bases to networks of smaller, dispersed bases, requiring a cost-effective mix of targeted investments in base resiliency and recovery capabilities. The planned procurements are aligned with strategic guidance to deter or defeat pacing threats, ensuring the Air Force remains prepared to respond to evolving adversary tactics and environmental challenges.