Space Force IT, Data Analytics, Digital Solutions

Abstract

Digital Engineering (DE) is one of four USSF Focus areas in the Service's digital transformation, and is a key enabler. The Space Force was born as a digitally-driven organization to meet the need to respond faster to global threats and to act as a force multiplier for the lean Service. The "USSF Vision for a Digital Service," May 2021, signed by the Chief of Space Operations, states that "A key aim of [Digital Engineering] is to manage the complexity of contemporary weapon system acquisition as well as accelerate and modernize the entire capability development lifecycle—from conception to deployment to operations and sustainment.” The USSF Digital Engineering Ecosystem stakeholders are from across the capability development lifecycle. Users include engineers, program managers, force designers, requirements professionals, finance professionals, contracting professionals, logisticians, acquisition leaders and decision makers, mission partners, industry connections, and all other participants in the Capability Development Lifecycle. The Department of Defense's (DoD) Defense Acquisition University definition of Digital Engineering Ecosystem is, "The interconnected infrastructure, environment, and methodology (process, methods, and tools) used to store, access, analyze, and visualize data and models to address the needs of stakeholders." The current funding profile will demonstrate a robust capability for approximately 2000 users with the goal to scale up to accommodate users across the USSF. This includes cloud-hosted and on-premises virtual machines with integrated applications tailored to users for access on users' desks through the web as well as demonstration of secure thin client and other user devices for user access. The modernized capability buildout is for all security classification domains from Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) to Secret, Top Secret (TS), Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) and Special Access Program (SAP). For the SAP deployment, the program also provides initial capability for necessary secure lab space to conduct capability development using the toolsets. This program supports the Secretary of the Air Force (SecAF) Operational Imperative (OI) #1, "Space Order of Battle" and OI #2, "Optimized Advanced Battle Management System" (ABMS). OI #1 requires the USSF to field space-based services that are resilient to attack. The Digital Engineering Ecosystem (DEE) provides the modernized capability development toolsets to accomplish design, development, sustainment and retirement decisions in support of that goal across the entire Unites States (US) military space portfolio. The DEE is essential for managing the complexity of the system-of-systems design and development orchestration necessary to build out a resilient architecture for space-based operational support systems. Additionally, the DEE improves the agility of the USSF acquisition workforce, enabling quicker and more informed decision making and faster delivery of capabilities to warfighters. In support of OI #2, the DEE also projects to demonstrate digital engineering toolsets for the design of the USSF led portion of ABMS with the potential to scale. In addition, the program demonstrates digital transformation for use by all Space Systems Command (SSC) program offices. Project 645620, Digital Engineering, demonstrates and builds a scalable initial increment of the DEE and demonstrates a Digital Services Ecosystem (DSE) for Space Force Capability Development. Strategic Analysis Tools will continue development of USSF Space Enterprise Architecture Modeling. The Science, Technology, and Research Studies effort focuses on an Artificial Intelligence Accelerator with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Project 646017, SSC Developmental IT Infrastructure, in FY 2025 supports the SSC Chief Information Office by implementing cybersecurity integration, a Cybersecurity Operations Center, Authorizing Official and Risk Management Framework cyber assessment team, Zero Trust, and supply chain risk management capabilities. This project also includes USSF's Integrated Operations Network (ION) effort. ION will provide a secure, reliable, multi-classification data transport high speed backbone across kill webs. 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, 2025
• Source ID: 1203010SF_4_3620F_PB_2025
• Change Summary Explanation: FY 2025: +24.985M for Integrated Operations Network; + 1.150M for advanced space capability modeling; and other minor adjustments.
• Service Agency Name: Air Force

Entities

Organizations

• United States Air Force

Tags

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
• Space