Tech Transition (Space)
Abstract
The Tech Transition (Space) Program addresses the gaps between USSF Force Design activities, 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 649493 eases and accelerates the architectural pivots required by the Space Warfighting Analysis Center's future force designs through engagement with commercial and industry partners, prototyping and demonstration, test buys and contracts, warfighter engagement, and the capturing of lessons learned to feed back into Force Design analytics and forward into requirements and acquisition. 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 FY 2029, 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 DoD and commercial paths, including developing a billing approach between vendors, for both space-to-ground and space-to-space connectivity. The knowledge will transition to USSF to inform contract structures for operations that enable switching between DoD systems and multiple vendors at minimum cost. Together, these Projects will directly inform COCOMS, MAJCOMS, Field Commands, 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. In order to manage, execute, and deliver science and technology capabilities, this program element may include: necessary civilian pay expenses; expenses to support the operation and maintenance of facilities; as well as expenses related to travel, supplies, IT hardware, software and support, administrative contractor services, etc. 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
- 1206458SF_4_3620F_PB_2025
- Change Summary Explanation
- FY 2025 funding increased compared to FY 2024 by $63.9M. Funding increased due to initiation of prototype Hybrid SATCOM Terminal integration on first 5 of 9 platforms and planned increase for customization of multi-band apertures to allow use on most challenging platforms as well as hardware costs for the resilient architecture design and evaluation project. The increase in FY2025 from PB 2024 to PB 2025 of $0.4M reflects additional funding to address rising costs for hardware and services.
- Service Agency Name
- Air Force
Entities
Organizations
- United States Air Force
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