THRESHER

The THRESHER program, identified as Program Element (PE) 0304109F in the Air Force's Research, Development, Test & Evaluation (RDT&E) budget, is a new initiative beginning in Fiscal Year 2026. Its primary objective is to fund technology development, testing, and support to enable real-time access for United States Air Force (USAF) warfighters to the Thresher system. Thresher is a National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) program of record designed to provide a high-fidelity, real-time multi-domain situational awareness capability by integrating data from multiple sources and security levels. The program supports both tactical users in the field and strategic users in national intelligence roles.

A key goal of the THRESHER program is to expand the range of data sources and enhance analytic capabilities within the Thresher system. This expansion aims to improve the fidelity of the air and maritime operational picture available to USAF warfighters. By leveraging advanced analytics and integrating additional data streams, the program seeks to deliver more accurate and timely situational awareness. This capability is considered critical for mission success in complex operational environments.

The Technology Development budget line under project 675222 is the central focus of this program element. Funding is allocated to support the development, evaluation, and release of new technologies that will be transitioned into the Thresher baseline. These efforts include research and prototyping to ensure that the system can process and disseminate information at multiple security levels, meeting the needs of both tactical and strategic users. The program is structured to allow for iterative development and integration of new capabilities over time.

The acquisition strategy for THRESHER involves the use of Military Interdepartmental Purchase Requests (MIPRs) to transfer funds to Other Government Agencies (OGAs) for execution. This collaborative approach is intended to leverage specialized expertise and resources across the Department of Defense and the intelligence community. The program may also include necessary civilian pay expenses required to manage, execute, and deliver weapon system capability, although no such expenses are forecasted for FY 2025 or FY 2026 within this program element.

The Operational System Development activity under Budget Activity 7 is appropriate for THRESHER, as it supports the development and upgrade of systems that have already been fielded or approved for full-rate production. The intent is to ensure that production funding can be anticipated in the current or subsequent fiscal year, aligning technology development with operational deployment timelines. The program's schedule profile indicates that technology development, evaluation, and release activities will occur from the first quarter of FY 2025 through the fourth quarter of FY 2030.

No prior year funding was allocated to THRESHER, and the FY 2026 budget marks the program's official start. There are no congressional adds, reductions, or rescissions associated with this line item, and the funding increase from FY 2025 to FY 2026 reflects the initiation of the technology development effort. The program does not include other program funding summaries or related procurement activities at this time, focusing exclusively on research, development, and operational system enhancement.