Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site

The Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site (RTS) program, funded under Program Element (PE) 0606002A, is a key Army Research, Development, Test & Evaluation (RDT&E) line item that supports the testing and evaluation of major Army and Department of Defense (DoD) missile systems. Located in a remote area with unique instrumentation, RTS provides a strategic test environment for Army Modernization Priority Programs and serves as a high-value sensor for the U.S. Space Surveillance Network. The goals of this program are to enable rigorous test and evaluation for acquisition programs of national defense significance, and to provide space operations and intelligence data in support of United States Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM).

The principal project funded by this line item supports management and contracting personnel, as well as technical operations at RTS. Objectives include ensuring the availability of specialized radar, optical, telemetry, command/control/communications, safety, and data reduction systems required for missile defense testing. The site's capabilities are used for Army Missile Defense, DARPA hypersonic boost-glide tests, Air Force and Navy ICBM tests, Missile Defense Agency (MDA) operational demonstrations, and NASA space experiments. The program also funds contractors for operations and maintenance, and provides mission-essential bandwidth through the Kwajalein Cable System (KCS) fiber optic link between Kwajalein and Guam.

Funding for civilian pay supports government personnel managed by the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command (USASMDC), who oversee test and evaluation activities at RTS. The objective is to maintain a skilled workforce capable of managing complex test operations for Army and DoD missile systems. This includes salaries and travel for personnel involved in the planning and execution of tests, ensuring continuity and expertise in range operations.

Temporary Duty (TDY), training, and supplies funding provides for travel and training of both military and civilian personnel involved in missile system testing. The goal is to ensure that staff are adequately trained and equipped to support evolving test requirements, which is critical for the successful execution of test missions. This line item also covers necessary supplies to facilitate ongoing test operations.

Contractor labor and contractor material lines fund technical support and materials required to maintain and operate the range's unique instrumentation. Contractor labor supports test planning, instrumentation operations, systems engineering, flight safety, and launch ordnance, while contractor material ensures the range's capabilities are sustained and obsolescence is prevented. These objectives are essential for maintaining the technical readiness of RTS to support current and future DoD test requirements.

Fiber optic cable funding ensures the continued lease and maintenance of the fiber optic link between Kwajalein Island and Guam, which is vital for high-bandwidth data transmission during test operations. Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDC) contractor pay provides technical expertise to RTS leadership for strategic planning and execution of critical technology. Contractor meteorological funding supports weather sensing capabilities necessary for test planning and execution, while ground transportation ensures material and personnel can be efficiently moved between Kwajalein and the continental U.S.

Mission specific environmental funding is directed at maintaining range readiness and ensuring compliance with environmental regulations, which is essential for sustained operations and future enhancements at RTS. The program's objectives are to provide a robust, reliable, and strategically important test site that supports a wide array of missile defense and space operations for the Army, Air Force, Navy, MDA, and NASA. The FY2026 budget reflects ongoing efforts to optimize costs and workforce efficiency in alignment with executive directives, while continuing to support the Pacific Defense Initiative and other high-priority national defense programs.