Air & Space Operations Center (AOC)

Mission — Air & Space Operations Center (AOC) source

The Air and Space Operations Center Weapon System (AOC WS) program element provides software engineering of Command and Control (C2) capabilities across the entire spectrum of air and space operations from the strategic to the tactical level. AOC WS Modifications allows for the consolidation of many C2 systems across the AOC enterprise to a single baseline to enable the capability, scalability, security, resiliently, and interoperability required to support Major Theater War. AOC WS modifications are also required to remain interoperable, certified, supportable, and compliant through software engineering solutions, integration, testing, fielding, and sustainment of new capabilities and upgrades. This includes utilization of agile software engineering methodologies and managed cloud infrastructure and platform services. Modifications are required for the AOC WS to keep pace with evolving Government Off the Shelf (GOTS) components, integrated Commercial Off the Shelf (COTS) components, DoD directives, changes in the underlying Information Technology (IT) environment, as well as to deliver effective operational capabilities for the user. The Flight Operations (Flight Ops) Program continues to develop and support software-based capabilities that optimize unit resource allocation to maximize the value of each mission or sortie and increase total force readiness. It combines scheduling, training, and standardizations/evaluations applications to support Air Mobility Command and Air Combat Command sorties, and U.S. Space Force scheduling. Funding supports the integration of existing Puckboard and Patriot Excalibur (PEX) products to provide a modernized user interface, resilient architecture, and full spectrum of needed capabilities for scheduling. The program also drives efficiencies in development, integration, sustainment, and management, and provides mission ready forces to meet global wartime and peacetime operations taskings. Efforts within this program element align with USAF investment in Mission Planning Systems (0208006F), All Domain Common Platform(0303248F), C2IMERA (0305015F/0305836F) and ABMS (0604003F) to deliver the Theater Air Planning System of Systems (TAP-SoS) architecture for the DAF BATTLE NETWORK. The FY 2026 request was reduced by -$1.640 million for Advisory and Assistance Services to promote efficiencies and advance the policies of the Administration in alignment with Executive Order 14222, "Implementing the President's Department of Government Efficiency Cost Efficiency Initiative.” This program element may include necessary civilian pay expenses required to manage, execute, and deliver AOC WS capabilities. The use of such program funds would be in addition to the civilian pay expenses budgeted in program elements 0605829F, 0605831F, 0605833F, or 0605898F. In FY 2024 19.800 million was expended for civilian pay expenses in this program element, and in FY 2025 18.287 million is forecasted for civilian pay expenses in this program element. 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.

Mission — AOC WS Modifications source

This budget line funds the Air Operations Center Weapon System (AOC WS), AN/USQ-163 Falconer, the senior element of the Theater Air Control System (TACS). This is the weapon system that the Commander, Air Force Forces (COMAFFOR) provides the Combined/Joint Force Air Component Commander (C/JFACC) for planning, executing, and assessing theater-wide air and space operations. The C/JFACC provides air, space and cyber support to the Combined/Joint Forces Commander (C/JFC) by coordinating, deconflicting, and assessing the progress of various weapon systems to advance the C/JFC's campaign. The AOC WS develops operations strategy and planning documents. The weapon system also disseminates tasking orders, executes day-to-day peacetime and combat air, space and cyber operations, and provides rapid reaction to immediate situations by exercising positive control of friendly forces. This program is dependent on the All Domain Common Platform (ADCP). The ADCP provides an extensible cloud-based Infrastructure and Platform as a Service (IaaS/PaaS) hosting platform built to deliver highly resilient mission applications and data to Airmen deployed around the world. Funding supports continued software engineering capacity required for AOC WS Modifications to support and enable the transition from legacy systems (e.g., Theater Battle Management Core System - Force Level (TBMCS FL) and AOC 10.1) to Block 20 modernized capabilities. Additionally, funding supports IaaS/PaaS development and operations specific to the AOC program. AOC WS Modifications are required to support mission requirements at geographic AOCs, global (formerly functional) AOCs, and support and manpower augmentation units, and to keep the AOC current and interoperable with the Combatant Commands (CCMDs), cyber requirements, and next generation weapon systems/weapons. Funding also provides software engineering capacity to deliver air operations capabilities improving speed and automation of the full air tasking cycle, including integration with unit-level sortie generation capabilities that feed friendly order of battle (FrOB) information to the Master Air Attack Plan process. AOC WS Modifications modernize the AOC utilizing agile methodologies to deliver capabilities that keep pace with evolving commercial and government off the shelf (COTS/GOTS) software components, DoD directives, operational energy security and efficiency objectives, and changes in the underlying IT environment. Additionally, the modernization ensure the AOC WS remains interoperable, certified, and supportable across the lifecycle of new capabilities and upgrades. This includes utilization of a managed cloud IaaS/PaaS hosting platform. This program element may include necessary civilian pay expenses required to manage, execute, and deliver weapon system capability. The use of such program funding would be in addition to the civilian pay expenses budgeted in program elements 0605829F, 0605831F, 0605833F, or 0605898F. In FY 2024, $19.794M was expended for civilian pay expenses in this program element, and in FY 2025, $18.181M is forecasted for civilian pay expenses in this program element.

Mission — Kessel Run Flight Operations source

The Flight Operations (Ops) project modernizes aerospace combat readiness management to enhance Air Force mission readiness. This budget line funds the development of Flight Ops' combat readiness management solution that provides scheduling, records management, standardization and evaluation, and resource allocation for aircrews and other operational units. Funding supports the continued development and sustainment of legacy systems, e.g., Puckboard, PEX, and G/TIMS, and integration into a unified DAF enterprise system. The project leverages best practices and user feedback from existing systems, both within and outside Government, to optimize resource allocation, sortie value, resource efficiency, and total force readiness. The Flight Ops system can: • Optimize unit resource allocation • Maximize sortie value • Optimize fuel use • Increase total force readiness to maximize wing lethality The system offers real-time visibility into aircraft and aircrew status, enabling informed decisions on sortie generation and readiness. Future capabilities may include data analytics and AI-driven scheduling and integration with Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) and autonomous air vehicles. Flight Ops will deliver a unified, modernized, and resilient command and control capability that is integrated with the DAF BATTLE NETWORK. Flight Ops will ultimately enhance the Department of Air Force's ability to deliver mission-ready forces to meet global wartime and peacetime operations, while ensuring compliance with DoD directives, cybersecurity mandates, and National Defense Strategy priorities. This program element may include necessary civilian pay expenses required to manage, execute, and deliver weapon system capability. The use of such program funding would be in addition to the civilian pay expenses budgeted in program elements 0605829F, 0605831F, 0605833F, or 0605898F. In FY 2024, 19.800M was expended for civilian pay expenses in this program element, and in FY 2025, 18.287M is forecasted for civilian pay expenses in this program element.

Accomplishments & Planned Programs (2)