Space Force IT, Data Analytics, Digital Solutions

Abstract

This program investigates, develops, and analyzes space related capabilities to digitize the Space Domain Awareness and Protect and Defend portfolios to promote further efficiency and speed. It will conduct a wide array of activities to model, integrate, and test existing and future capabilities through a Multi-Level Security (MLS) Architecture. It will provide a pathway for data integration with various Authoritative Sources of Truth (ASOT) and Single Sources of Truth (SSOT). The supported activities include: system engineering, data engineering, data science, prototype mock up, demonstrations and testing, as well as modeling simulations and analysis related to Space Domain Awareness and Protect Defend capabilities through highly complex Space Command and Control (C2) systems traceable to a Digital Engineering Interconnected, Cloud-based Ecosystem (DEICE) Tech Stack. Expanding the appropriate acquisition authorities and contract mechanisms to deliver capabilities sooner, Space Systems Command (SSC) will strategically execute experimentation, prototyping, risk reduction, and other efforts to develop new or repurpose existing capabilities. This includes the development and prototyping of critical technology within the Department of Defense (DoD) across other government agencies, academic institutions, and industry partners that are identified providing foundational systems engineering to enable critical infrastructure. Digital Engineering (DE) helps create models to represent all aspects of the system and to support all the activities for the design, development, manufacture, and operation of the system throughout its lifecycle; therefore reducing overall sustainment that would have been endured. This project directly supports Space Domain Awareness (SDA) and Protect and Defend models expected to be utilized in organizations such as the National Space Test and Training Center (NSTTC) and USSF Test and Evaluation (TE). The data transport layer and cross domain layers will further be expanded and greater capability for synchronous Command and Control (C2). DEICE Tech Stack prototypes and develops the Space Force Digital Engineering Ecosystem (DEE) as a cloud-based, remotely accessible, multilevel security, interconnected infrastructure, providing the technical methodology used to store, access, analyze, and visualize evolving systems' data and models throughout systems' acquisition lifecycles. Funding will investigate, develop, and analyze USSF-unique research via studies/grants/partnerships to promote further efficiency and speed using industry, academia, international and other government agencies. This funding is required to serve Chief of Space Operations priority efforts to innovate and experiment to build and agile force that better ensures our long-term competitive advantage in space. These efforts promote competition between various research organizations (e.g. laboratories, FFRDCs, etc) to advance critical research for contested space operations. SSC Developmental IT Infrastructure supports information technology (IT), cybersecurity, software, data and network modernization. Information Technology provides customers proper tools needed to accomplish their mission. These tools enhance customer collaboration, end-user experience, exploration and integration amongst our mission partners and industry. SSC Developmental IT Infrastructure cybersecurity helps assess technical risks associated with use, by understanding the System and Enterprise-level risks posed by threats based on deployment and gathered intelligence. The software sector aims to bring Software Agile best practices as mainstream into acquisition; it also enables Platform and Infrastructure at scale based on mission thread needs. The SSC Developmental IT infrastructure provides deliberate data exposure and "normalizes” the data to make it meaningful and useful for any business or mission use case that desires to exploit it. The network modernization improves and optimizes administrative/mission networks and end-user experiences across several enclaves. The SSC Developmental IT Infrastructure also furnishes internal management of requirements, funding, contract actions, and PM support/training relating to the SSC Chief Information Office. Space acquisition must respond with speed and agility to emerging adversary threats. SSC has transformed the organization and implementation of space acquisition to an enterprise approach, to increase innovation and resiliency, leveraging international, commercial, and mission partnerships, and managing program/project priorities according to an integrated unclassified/classified enterprise space architecture. Cross mission integration is essential to ensure existing and future systems are capable of digital processing and technologies. This program element may include necessary civilian pay expenses required to manage, execute, and deliver DE system capability. The use of such program funds would be in addition to the civilian pay expenses budgeted in program elements 1206392SF and 1206398SF. This program element may include necessary support required to ensure a cyber-secure and resilient IT infrastructure. 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, 2024
• Source ID: 1203010SF_4_3620F_PB_2024
• Change Summary Explanation: FY 2024: +35.832M for consolidation and increase of Digital Engineering efforts into a standalone BPAC FY 2024: +4.800M to realign Science, Technology, and Research (STR) directorate activities funding from APPN 3410, PE 1209398SF (SAG 42A), to the Service-wide IT, Data Analytics, and Digital Solutions PE FY 2024: +20.814 transferred to consolidate funding for SSC Chief Information Office Headquarters functions and integrated cybersecurity FY 2024: +1.216M inflation increase for non-pay and non-fuel purchases.
• Service Agency Name: Air Force

Entities

Organizations

• United States Air Force

Tags

Communities of Interest

• Cyber
• Engineered Resilient Systems (Alumni COI)

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

• Acquisition
• Air Force
• Artificial Intelligence
• Best Practices
• Command And Control
• Cross Domain
• Data Analysis
• Data Integration
• Data Science
• Department Of Defense
• Digital Engineering
• Engineering
• Information Systems
• Product Development
• Space Force
• Systems Engineering
• Test And Evaluation

Fields of Study

• Computer science

Readers

• Aerospace Engineering.
• Enterprise Information Systems Architecture and Joint Command Capability Interoperability Support.

Technology Areas

• AI & ML
• AI & ML - DoD AI Strategy
• Cyber
• Fully Networked C3
• Fully Networked C3 - Command and Control
• Space