Tactical Terminal

The Tactical Terminal program, as outlined in Program Element (PE) 0305158F of the Air Force Research, Development, Test & Evaluation (RDT&E) budget, is focused on the development and enhancement of Integrated Broadcast Service (IBS)-compatible terminals. These terminals are designed to provide Air Force warfighters with strategic, operational, and tactical intelligence, as well as threat warning information, through secure radio communications. The program supports both airborne and ground weapon systems, offering transmit/receive and receive-only solutions to ensure broad operational coverage and situational awareness.

The Civilian Compensation Program is a budget line within the Tactical Terminal program that covers necessary civilian pay expenses required to manage, execute, and deliver weapon system capability. This funding is supplementary to civilian pay expenses budgeted in other related program elements. It primarily supports personnel involved in the study, development, testing, and support of software and hardware modifications to tactical terminals. The program ensures that skilled civilian staff are available to oversee and implement technical upgrades and maintain program continuity.

For FY 2025, the Civilian Compensation Program funded a trade study focused on tactical terminal modifications and enhancements. Objectives included initiating a gap analysis to ensure compatibility between the Joint Tactical Terminal-Next Generation (JTT-NG) and existing IBS infrastructure, as well as evaluating hardware and software solutions for hosting user interface software on the JTT-NG. This research is critical for identifying technical gaps and informing future development efforts to maintain interoperability and effectiveness of tactical communications systems.

The Radio budget line within the Tactical Terminal program aligns resources with the technical objectives of radio terminal development. In FY 2026, civilian compensation efforts previously budgeted under the Civilian Compensation Program were transferred to the Radio project. The Radio project funds the completion of the trade study initiated in FY 2025, including a comprehensive gap analysis and evaluation of hardware and software solutions for the JTT-NG.

In FY 2026, the Radio project will integrate the findings from the trade study and gap analysis to inform and initiate development, testing, and support activities for software and hardware modifications to the JTT-NG terminal. Objectives include validating that the JTT-NG meets all Air Force requirements for tactical terminal capability, interoperability, and security. This phase is essential for transitioning from research and analysis to actual system upgrades and fielding improved tactical communication capabilities.

The acquisition strategy for both Civilian Compensation and Radio projects involves distributing funds to Department of Defense (DoD) services and other government agencies via Military Interdepartmental Purchase Requests (MIPRs). This approach leverages the expertise of multiple agencies and ensures efficient execution of development, testing, and support activities. The program is classified under Budget Activity 7, Operational Systems Development, as it focuses on upgrading systems that have already been fielded or approved for full-rate production.