Information Systems Security Program

Abstract

Information Systems Security Program (ISSP) - Includes resources, manpower authorizations, necessary facilities and equipment required to develop, deliver, and sustain Cryptographic Modernization (Crypto Mod) capabilities to nearly all Department of the Air Force (DAF) weapon systems that encrypt/decrypt sensitive information. Crypto Mod ensures confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the information and the systems. The Crypto Mod work done in the ISSP ensures that DAF systems receive cryptographic capabilities that are compliant with National Security Agency mandates and that commanders can confidently leverage for Joint All Domain Command and Control (JADC2) capabilities. The ISSP Element and associated Crypto Mod activities provide a foundational Communications Security (COMSEC) capability that is the first and last line of cyber defense against adversary exploitation. The DAF and the DoD require the capability to securely collect, process, store, and disseminate an uninterrupted flow of information, while denying an adversary the ability to intercept, collect, destroy, interpret, or manipulate our information flows. Crypto Mod provides secure communication to allow the DoD to achieve and maintain decision superiority, the key to successful application of the military instrument of national power in modern, high-tempo, full-spectrum operations. AF COMSEC equipment protects sensitive information such as warfighter positions, mission planning, target strikes, commanders' orders, intelligence, force strength, and force readiness. When an adversary is capable of interpretation, manipulation, or destruction of the information used by the warfighter, DoD military forces will suffer significant and/or devastating mission degradation that can result in loss of life and resources and/or exceptionally grave damage to national security. The advanced threats and capabilities of near-peer adversaries will necessitate the exclusion of weapon systems with obsolete cryptography from Combatant Commander Areas of Responsibility (AORs)—diminishing the ability of the DAF win in a high-end fight. The 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) mandates the services begin reporting on their Crypto Mod activities and status of obsolete products starting in Jan 2022, as well as the National Security Memorandum 10 (4 May 2022) which identifies the need for quantum-resistant crypto. These documents highlight the high importance of ISSP efforts. The overall focus of the Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation (RDT&E) efforts within the ISSP program is to transform current Crypto Mod devices to protect against current technology threats, which include quantum computing. The modernization effort is required by Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Notice (CJCSN) 6510 and NSA Decertification Messages (CED-31-15/037-21/032-16) from FY23 for the need to add Quantum Resilience to the existing high assurance cryptographic products. This effort will allow protection against advanced & evolving quantum computing threats. All existing crypto devices will be vulnerable and must be modernized to be quantum resilient. These efforts are driven by the National Security Agency's (NSA) requirements to implement newly developed Quantum Resistant Algorithms (QRAs). The NSA requires an inventory of cryptographic devices that are more resilient to future threats through full software re-programmability. This will enable protection against near peer adversary exploitation and provide the ability to rapidly adapt against newer threats. 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. In FY23 $1.579M was expended for civilian pay expenses in this program element, and in FY24 $1.642M is forecasted for civilian pay expenses in this program element. 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: 0303140F_7_3600_PB_2025
• Change Summary Explanation: FY23 decreases for JCC2 BTR and SBIR transfer. FY25 increase continues FY23 and FY24 increases to accelerate Quantum Resilience modernization to meet NSA-mandated decertification dates for all Air, Ground, and Space networks and platforms in DAF, other Services, and multinational and interagency partners. Modernization will secure an uninterrupted flow of national security information while denying adversaries the ability to exploit, interpret, and manipulate that information. Addresses the near peer pacing threat. The FY 2025 funding request was reduced by $5.5 million to account for the availability of prior year execution balances.
• Service Agency Name: Air Force

Entities

Organizations

• United States Air Force

Tags

Fields of Study

• Computer science

Readers

• Cybersecurity.
• Enterprise Information Systems Architecture and Joint Command Capability Interoperability Support.
• Naval Mine Countermeasure Systems Development.

Technology Areas

• Cyber
• Fully Networked C3
• Fully Networked C3 - Command and Control
• Quantum Computing
• Quantum Science - Quantum Key Distribution