COMSATCOM

Abstract

The subject Research, Development, Test and Evaluation (RDT&E) funds will be executed from Headquarters United States Space Force (USSF) and will be used to advance mission-critical COMSATCOM capabilities, thereby enabling transformation of USSF's SATCOM enterprise by ensuring RDT&E investments have utility and portability between Military SATCOM (MILSATCOM) and COMSATCOM requirements. These activities include: COMSATCOM financial and customer tools development and migration from the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) to Space Force systems; development of transformative COMSATCOM acquisition capabilities; enterprise innovation development activities focused on evolving and integrating the four principle layers of a SATCOM service - space, terminal, network, and management and control - as well as governance structures needed to normalize enterprise capabilities; and RDT&E of innovative and emerging technology and capabilities, including proliferated Low Earth Orbit (LEO)systems. The Space Force has determined that an enterprise approach to the procurement, delivery, and management of its SATCOM capabilities is the best means to create an environment that is responsive to Combatant Commanders and other users across the spectrum of conflict. In addition, an enterprise approach will improve affordability and mission assurance. The COMSATCOM Program Element (PE) started this process and will continue to deliver specific COMSATCOM capabilities as well as support COMSATCOM integration into the SATCOM Enterprise. Procurement of COMSATCOM capability is also supported by the Defense Working Capital Fund (DWCF). An Overarching SATCOM Enterprise Program of Record that incorporates COMSATCOM, MILSATCOM and International Partners into a hybrid structure is found under Program Element 1206431F, Project 657104, MILSATCOM Space Modernization Initiative (SMI). Space acquisition must respond with speed and agility to emerging adversary threats. The Space Force is transforming the organization and implementation of space acquisition to an enterprise approach, maximizing innovation and resiliency, leveraging international, commercial, and mission partnerships, and managing program/project priorities according to an integrated unclassified/classified enterprise space architecture. Expanding the appropriate acquisition authorities and contract mechanisms to deliver capability sooner, the Space Force will strategically execute experimentation, prototyping, risk reduction, and other efforts to develop new or repurpose capabilities. This PE may include necessary civilian pay expenses required to manage, execute and deliver Commercial SATCOM in a single Enterprise architecture. The use of such funds would be in addition to the civilian pay expenses budgeted in PEs 1206392F and 1206398F. This program is in Budget Activity 5, System Development and Demonstration (SDD) because it has passed Milestone B approval and is conducting engineering and manufacturing development tasks aimed at meeting validated requirements prior to full rate production.

Document Details

• Document Type: Project
• Publication Date: Oct 01, 2021
• Source ID: 650140_1206445F_5_3600_PB_2021

Tags

Readers

• Aerospace Engineering.
• Tactical Satellite Communications Systems Engineering.

Technology Areas

• Space