AF Defensive Cyberspace Operations
Abstract
AF Defensive Cyberspace Operations (AF DCO) allows the Department of the Air Force (DAF) to keep pace with the ever-evolving threats from the operational (cyber) environment. AF DCO develops capabilities that provide the Department of the Air Force increased assurance in prosecuting air campaigns through enhanced situational awareness and cyber defense of the systems and assets required to enable the movement of forces. AF DCO is building an integrated architecture that extends cyber defense to, and integrates data from, information systems, mission systems and control systems relevant to air campaigns. The Integrated Defensive Cyberspace System (IDCS) will unify the missions of network defense and cyber protection teams, allowing them to conduct cyber missions from the same system with shared, mission-relevant data. IDCS safeguards Air Force Information Network (AFIN) and Department of Defense (DoD) network enclaves including their associated computer systems, software applications and sensitive operational information against unauthorized access, intrusion, data exfiltration, corruption, and/or destruction. Legacy system modernization activities have been combined into IDCS (BPAC 677824). The Firestarter effort will continue to be funded in BPAC 677820. Firestarter capabilities will be incrementally integrated to be compatible with and operate within the IDCS. IDCS continually improves its capabilities through modern software delivery practices: continuous research and development (R&D), testing, fielding, and modification based on operational feedback. IDCS is operated by the DAF Total Force, including Active Duty (AD), Air National Guard (ANG), and Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC) Airmen. IDCS enables rapid deployment of defensive cyber sensor capabilities while disrupting bad actors from exploiting critical vulnerabilities by developing and employing both automated decision making (ADM) and human/machine teaming (HMT) with trained defensive cyber operators. IDCS supports both enterprise (fixed) and edge/mobile use cases and allows the DAF to execute the Cyberspace Vulnerability Assessment/Hunter (CVA/H), Air Force Cyber Defense (ACD), and Cyber Defense Analysis (CDA) missions. IDCS addresses a critical capability gap identified by the Secretary of the Air Force (SecAF) - the lack of a synchronized, enterprise-level approach to mitigate cyberspace vulnerabilities related to mission performance and/or mission assurance. Failing to address this gap will hinder the DAF ability to project Air Power and dominate in a fight against near-peer adversaries. IDCS integrates with, and makes its data available to, the Department of the Air Force (DAF) Data Fabric, Joint Cyberspace Warfighting Architecture (JCWA) and the Advanced Battle Management System (ABMS). IDCS provides increased visibility into health and readiness of cyberspace systems for both local and enterprise commanders. Activities also include various Advisory and Assistance Services (A&AS) and Program Management Administration (PMA) activities to support the aforementioned development efforts. This program element may include necessary civilian pay expenses required to manage, execute, and deliver weapon system capability. The use of such program funds would be in addition to the civilian pay expenses budgeted in program element 0605827F, 0605828F, 0605829F, 0605831F, 0605832F, 0605833F, 0605898F, 0606398F. In FY23 $0.457M was expended for civilian pay expenses in this program element, and in FY24 $4.053M is forecasted for civilian pay expenses in this program element. In FY25, PE 0208088F, AF Defensive Cyberspace Operations, Project 677821, Cyberspace Vulnerability Assessment, Project 677822, Cyber Defense Analysis, and Project 677823, AFCERT efforts were transferred to PE 0208088F, AF Defensive Cyberspace Operations, Project 677824, Integrated Defensive Cyber System, in order to distinguish IDCS from previous efforts. This program is in Budget Activity 7, Operational System Development because this budget activity includes development efforts to upgrade systems that have been fielded or have received approval for full rate production and anticipate production funding in the current or subsequent fiscal year.
Document Details
- Document Type
- R2 Budgetary Justification
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2025
- Source ID
- 0208088F_7_3600_PB_2025
- Change Summary Explanation
- In FY24, the DAF added $105.759M to develop IDCS which will defend AF networks, control systems, and mission systems against more complex and capable cyber threats from near-peer adversaries and other state actors focusing initially on INDOPACOM defense. FY25 funding was reduced by $13.053M due to higher OSD and AF priorities.
- Service Agency Name
- Air Force
Entities
Organizations
- United States Air Force
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