Operational System Development - Hq USAF Only
Abstract
This Department of the Air Force (DAF) Operational Imperative effort accelerated a whole of nation approach to establish a reliable and resilient diverse data transport solution within the enterprise, in direct support of "Distributed Basing and Agile Combat Employment (ACE)” and "Readiness of the DAF to transition to a Wartime Posture Against a Peer Competitor” activities to ensure full integration of tactical communications at the edge will connect at the tyranny of the time and distance, across the Joint Force, DAF Enterprise, and allies. The activity builds upon the deployment and connectivity of solutions being delivered under the DAF Advanced Battle Management System (ABMS) Program Element 64003F. The DAF executed Task Force Sentinel Stand (TFSS) to assess cyber COMREL at the tactical edge. TFSS proved warfighters have a critical need to take their endpoint devices to austere locations and still access needed classified data without High Assurance IP Encryptor devices. Connectivity will allow relevant mission data requirements to the edge and through space with diverse access paths to deter adversary intrusions. This will include the SD-WAN (Software-Defined Wide Area Network) routing layer to transport content across nodes through both government and commercial communication paths. Through this effort the DAF will deploy, connect, and test SD-WAN solutions in direct support of PACAF, AFFORGEN and ACE initiatives, to allow Combat Air Forces to connect, move and maneuver, and recover safely, reducing risk to mission and life. DAF CIO's vision is to provide resilient, software-defined, transport and portable end points that create efficiencies and resiliency in transport by creating a "Black Fabric" that allows multiple providers to transport multiple classifications, rather than the historic and vulnerable approach of 1 fiber, 1 network, 1 classification. SD-WAN work initiated in Fiscal Year 2023 is a key foundational effort provides an essential Cyber and Information Technology Management Initiatives. Specifically, in FY24, funding was allocated to initiate activities to support deployment, connection and testing of an Operational EIT SD-WAN network in an "operational prototype" configuration, to demonstrate distributed edge intelligence and C2 "on-the-move.” Funding will initiate deployment of network capability that could in the future, if successful, be scaled for employment across any DAF (or DoD) installation or weapon system. FY24 and beyond funds are focused on the following outcomes: - (FY24) Plan/direct/deploy material and non-material solutions for a test campaign to codify operational capabilities for a multi-nodal, multi-level security, SD-WAN for better understand the utility of the integrated SD-WAN architecture to satisfy enterprise-wide IT needs across multiple classification levels. - (FY25+) Codify requirements, through experimentation and evaluation activities, for provisioning future network solutions to proliferate and sustain the SD-WAN architecture for any DAF installation or weapon system. - (FY25+) Define the DAF level standards for ensuring access to a proliferated SD-WAN architecture, which aligns with analogous technologies employed in the private sector today, to allow the widest possible adoption of this capability in the future. - (FY25+) Deliver critical near-term infrastructure for OI championed ACE needs and to demonstrate a technology that supports broader Joint All Domain C2 objectives. Valant Shield 22, Agile Reaper 23-1 and other planned exercises are underway to further define requirements for SD-WAN, ACE and AFFORGEN employment of these cutting-edge capabilities that are AOR specific and challenging today. This program is in Budget Activity 7, Operational System Development because this budget activity includes development efforts to upgrade systems that have been fielded or have received approval for full rate production and anticipate production funding in the current or subsequent fiscal year. This program is in Budget Activity 7, Operational System Development because this budget activity includes development efforts to upgrade systems that have been fielded or have received approval for full rate production and anticipate production funding in the current or subsequent fiscal year.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Project
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2024
- Source ID
- 673100_0303004F_7_3600_PB_2024
Related Documents
- Root: EIT CONNECT
- Child Accomplishment: Enterprise IT Diverse Data-Routing Network
- Child Cost Item: f98d54b195b2122f503660c471e16a16