Tech Transition (Space)
Abstract
The Tech Transition (Space) Program addresses the gap between initial system-level technology or concept development and demonstration, and successful acquisition and operational capability implementation. This program also matures new warfighting concepts to rapidly develop and experiment with fieldable prototypes to assess military utility of transition-ready weapon systems. Following the guidance in the National Defense Strategy, the Department of the Air Force has institutionalized Experimentation and Prototyping to achieve smarter, faster, and more efficient acquisitions that move technologies rapidly to support the most critical warfighting capabilities. Project 64S444, Experimentation (Space), explores new space-related 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 process and significantly reduce overall acquisitions costs. 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. This Program was a Congressionally-directed new start in FY 2022. It is a parallel effort to United States Air Force Program Element (PE) 0604858F, Tech Transition Program, Project 645350, Experimentation, and continues space-related work executed in that Program in prior fiscal years. By FY28, the Projects quantify the performance and resilience of a Hybrid SATCOM architecture in an operational environment by connecting flexible terminals (from multiple vendors) to multiple SATCOM paths spanning low, medium, and geosynchronous orbits. Each of these new SATCOM pathways offer unique attributes to the DOD. The terminal flexibility will allow rapid incorporation of new commercial SATCOM vendors as they emerge, thus ensuring low-cost SATCOM options for DOD in the foreseeable future. The Resilient Architecture Design and Evaluation project coupled with Hybrid SATCOM terminals will prototype and test techniques for dynamic networking, enhancing cybersecurity, and rapid switching capabilities between vendors, including developing a billing approach between vendors. The knowledge will transition to USSF to inform contract structures for operations that enable switching between multiple vendors at minimum cost. Together, these Projects will directly inform COCOMS, MAJCOMS, and PEOs in the acquisition and sustainment of Hybrid SATCOM capability for multiple Joint Force applications using commercial service level agreements and advanced cybersecurity architectures. 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. This type of 6.4 effort has been shown effective to reduce both the time and cost of transitioning the new capabilities to operations. 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
- 1206458SF_4_3620F_PB_2024
- Change Summary Explanation
- FY2024 funding increased compared to FY2023 by 164.649 million. Funding increased due to the addition of Hybrid SATCOM terminal efforts and architecture experimentation and the addition of resilient architecture design and evaluation program.
- Service Agency Name
- Air Force
Entities
Organizations
- United States Air Force
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