Facilities Restoration and Modernization - Test and Evaluation Support

Facilities Restoration and Modernization Test and Evaluation Support (PE 0605976F) funds repairs and upgrades to Air Force facilities needed to deliver weapon-system test capability. It is funded through the Research, Development, Test & Evaluation, Air Force appropriation under Budget Activity 6, RDT&E Management Support, which supports the installations and operations required for general research, development, test, and evaluation. The program covers expenses needed to manage, execute, and deliver that capability in addition to civilian pay budgeted under PE 0605807F. Its FY 2027 request is entirely base funding, with no overseas contingency operations funding.

Restoration repairs or replaces facilities damaged by inadequate sustainment, age, natural disasters, fire, accidents, or other causes. Modernization alters or replaces facilities to meet higher standards, accommodate new functions, or renew long-lived components such as frameworks and foundations. The funding does not cover environmental compliance, leases, custodial or grounds services, waste disposal, or central utilities. Supported organizations are the 96th Test Wing (TW) at Eglin Air Force Base (AFB), the 412 TW at Edwards AFB, and Arnold Engineering and Development Complex (AEDC) assets at Arnold AFB and several geographically separated test sites.

Program Element Budget Changes. The FY 2027 request rises from FY 2026 principally to develop Long Range Kill Chain test capability. Other changes include restoration of a FY 2026 congressional directed reduction, increases for test-infrastructure corrections and hypersonic ground-test infrastructure, and an inflation adjustment. These are partly offset by a reduction in a multiyear test-and-evaluation hypersonics addition and smaller baseline corrections. The previous President's Budget did not show FY 2027 FY 2030 funding for this element, so the exhibit does not treat a comparison between the two FY 2027 budget positions as meaningful.

Facility Restoration and Modernization at the 96 TW. At Eglin, FY 2026 work includes range-complex heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) repairs, perimeter-power improvements, and asphalt expansion for the Tactical Datalinks Test Lab. It also includes secondary-fluid-system design and low-slope-roof repairs at McKinley Climatic Laboratory, plus Central Control Facility roof repairs. FY 2027 plans shift to HVAC, plumbing, and electrical repairs across multiple test facilities; a planning charrette for the range communications facility; fluid replacement and storm-damage repair at McKinley; roof replacements; and planning, design, or construction for failing facilities. Funding returns toward normal levels after completion of major HVAC repairs.

Facility Restoration and Modernization at AEDC. AEDC's FY 2026 projects span geographically separated sites and emphasize hypersonic test capability. Major repair and replacement work supports the Von Karman Facility, J6 large rocket-motor test facility, Aerodynamic and Propulsion Test Unit (APTU), C-Plant, test-utility systems, and other facilities at Arnold AFB and the 704th Test Group (TG). The wider AEDC footprint includes the 704 TG at Holloman AFB, its Landing Gear Test Facility at Wright-Patterson AFB, Hypersonic Wind Tunnel 9 at White Oak, and the National Full-Scale Aerodynamics Complex at Moffett Field.

AEDC FY 2027 Infrastructure and Capability Work. Planned stopgap restoration and modernization at the Central Inertial and GPS Test Facility, Holloman High Speed Test Track, and National Radar Cross-Section Test Facility will bridge those sites to future military-construction projects. AEDC will also recapitalize shared mechanical, electrical, and cooling-water infrastructure at the Aeropropulsion Systems Test Facility, Von Karman Gas Dynamics Facility plant, and Propulsion Wind Tunnel plant. Targeted modernization covers the 16-foot Supersonic Wind Tunnel, APTU, and Turbine Engine Altitude test cells. AEDC will begin infrastructure projects supporting Long Range Kill Web capability development; Long Range Kill Chain test-capability development drives the line's substantial FY 2027 increase.

Facility Restoration and Modernization at the 412 TW. At Edwards, FY 2026 work includes aircraft-engine-repair-shop renovation, fire suppression for the Ridley Mission Control Center and fuel-cell dock, elevator replacement design at the Benefield Anechoic Facility, and Joint Simulation Environment control-room upgrades. FY 2027 plans include phased secure-facility, power, and test-cooling upgrades at Benefield. The test-engineering software lab will receive HVAC, safety, security, and fire-suppression improvements alongside warehouse and loading-dock renovation. Fire-alarm distribution upgrades at the telemetry-van maintenance shop are also planned; the funding increase reflects transfers associated with real-property appropriation corrections.

Related T&E Budget Lines. The exhibit identifies separate funding for Management Headquarters T&E, Test and Evaluation Support, Facilities Sustainment Test and Evaluation Support, Threat Simulator Development, and Major T&E Investment. Those lines remain distinct from this restoration-and-modernization element, including the Test and Evaluation Support line that budgets civilian pay. The exhibit states that an acquisition strategy is not applicable to this program element.