Tech Transition Program
Abstract
The Tech Transition Program addresses the gap between initial system-level technology or concept development and demonstration, and successful acquisition and operational capability implementation. The Tech Transition Program matures new warfighting concepts, rapidly develops fieldable prototypes, and performs experimentation to assess military utility of transition-ready weapon systems. This program utilizes multiple approaches and integrated activities to field technology for the warfighter focusing on efforts that are directly tied to the Secretary of the Air Force's (SecAF) Operational Imperatives. Experimentation efforts explore new concepts and their applications in potential future operating environments within a system-of-systems context taking risks early in the acquisition process to drive a more optimized and efficient acquisition approach significantly reducing overall acquisitions costs. Prototyping enables integration and demonstration of emerging technologies to quickly move them into warfighting capability. Following strategic guidance the Department of the Air Force has institutionalized Experimentation and Prototyping to achieve smarter, faster, and more efficient acquisitions that move technologies rapidly into the most critical warfighting capabilities. The Tech Transition Program allows acquisition program managers (the capability developers) and warfighters (the capability recipients and end users) to prototype, integrate, and demonstrate candidate technologies and assess them in an operational system of systems environment in partnership with Combatant Commanders, Major and Field Commands, Program Executive Officers, schoolhouses, simulation facilities, and development planning organizations. Architecture Design and Evaluation is directed by the DAF PEO C3BM with oversight by the Secretary of the Air Force along with the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Chief of Space Operations, and Senior Acquisition Executive. This activity is supported by the Air Force Research Laboratory. The total cost of the AKCS Middle Tier of Acquisition effort is $64.27 million, including RDT&E and procurement of prototype units. The AKCS is fully funded across the Future Years Defense Program. This program element may include necessary civilian pay expenses required to manage, execute, and deliver weapon system capability. The use of such programs funds would be in addition to the civilian pay expenses budgeted in program element 0605827F, 0605828F, 0605829F, 0605831F, 0605832F, 0605833F, 0605898F, 0606398F, 0605831F, and/or 0606017F. This effort is in Budget Activity 4, Advanced Component Development and Prototypes (ACD&P), because efforts are necessary to evaluate integrated technologies, representative modes or prototype systems in a high fidelity and realistic operating environment.
Document Details
- Document Type
- R2 Budgetary Justification
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2025
- Source ID
- 0604858F_4_3600_PB_2025
- Change Summary Explanation
- The FY 2025 funding request was reduced by $3.019 million to account for the availability of prior year execution balances.
- Service Agency Name
- Air Force
Entities
Organizations
- United States Air Force
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