Requirements Analysis & Concept Maturation

The Requirements Analysis & Concept Maturation (RACM) program element (PE 0604609F) is an Air Force Research, Development, Test & Evaluation (RDT&E) initiative under Budget Activity 4: Advanced Component Development & Prototypes (ACD&P). The primary goal of RACM is to provide analytic, technical, and programmatic rigor to address capability gaps, refine and mature future programs of record, and accelerate the transition of high-impact warfighting capabilities. This is accomplished through late-stage capability development, technology maturation, risk reduction, industry planning analysis, and support for Analysis of Alternatives (AoA). The program supports the Capability Development Enterprise (CDE) and aligns with Air Force Future Force Design priorities.

Architecture & Integration Core Ops and Gap Assessment (Project 640011) focuses on planning for development activities, including concept selection, risk reduction, and integration in preparation for transition to a Program of Record (PoR). This project supports Capability Based Assessments (CBAs), AoAs, and similar studies to evaluate stakeholder-focused warfighting capabilities. Specific objectives include developing technical descriptions, open systems analysis, and industrial base inputs to support acquisition, test, and training for current and emerging concepts.

The project also funds pre-Milestone A risk reduction, initial product support planning, and high-confidence initial designs, with a strong emphasis on digital infrastructure integration and multi-level security analysis.

Within Project 640011, two main activities are highlighted: Capability Development Core Ops and Capability Development System Attribute Definition and Acquisition Planning. Core Ops supports pre-Milestone A acquisition activities, including procuring and deploying networking equipment and digital tools to enable multi-level security and multi-domain analysis. These efforts integrate the Integrated Development Office (IDO) into digital environments such as MORPHEUS and the Digital Lab Environment.

The System Attribute Definition and Acquisition Planning activity refines proposed systems, informs acquisition planning, and supports the maturation of high-confidence PoRs. This includes digital engineering artifacts, risk reduction demonstrations, and coordination with operational stakeholders to reduce technical risk and prepare for program initiation.

Maturation and Modernization (Project 640012) aims to mature candidate concepts derived from Force Design and CDEO priorities, accelerate acquisition timelines, reduce technology risks, and demonstrate integration of potential solutions. This project utilizes modern digital tools and methodologies to provide data-driven decision support and inform or refine concepts not yet ready for acquisition decisions. Activities include concept refinement, risk reduction, and leveraging open architectures and family-of-systems approaches.

The project continues until a concept is ready for AoA funding, transition to a PoR, or is deemed not viable.

Project 640012 specifically supports Concept Refinement and Planning for Development aligned to CDEO priorities. This involves integrating candidate concepts previously demonstrated through rapid prototyping or experimentation, system-level design, and multiple technology transitions. The project delivers acquisition data and analysis to inform AoAs or pre-Program of Record activities. Potential candidate concepts include advanced network sensing capabilities and other priorities identified by the CDEO. The goal is to reduce system risk, demonstrate integration, and provide the analytical foundation for future acquisition decisions.

Hard and Deeply Buried Targets (HDBT) (Project 646090) is an OSD-directed, Air Force-led effort addressing the challenge of engaging sophisticated underground military complexes. The main objective is to conduct a broad-scope weaponeering analysis and concept refinement effort, known as Ensemble Analysis, to develop a technically rigorous understanding of how current and emerging strike capabilities can be combined to counter HDBTs. This analysis informs DoD-wide intelligence, operational, and acquisition decisions, enabling a full-spectrum counter-HDBT kill chain and expanding options to hold these targets at risk.

The HDBT project delivers campaign-level analysis, survivability assessments, and cost analyses based on existing intelligence characterizations of target complexes. The Ensemble Analysis evaluates the efficacy of layered and sequenced weapons effects, establishes technical attributes needed for future capabilities, and provides data to inform follow-on AoAs and acquisition strategies. The project also supports the analytical foundation for the future Joint HDBT Defeat Organization and ensures alignment with the National HDBT Strategy.