Command, Control and Communications Systems

The goal of the Mission Integrated Network Control (MINC) program is to develop networking resource management technology to enable agile, self-healing, heterogeneous communications that adapt autonomously to battlefield situations and information needs. Technology developed by MINC will translate warfighter information needs and mission applications into requests for communication services and will autonomously discover and configure communications nodes and pathways to form and execute adaptive effects chains and move information where it is needed the most. MINC supports applications that will provide up-to-date information to support warfighter situational awareness, a customized common operating picture, and adaptive effects chains across joint all-domain operations in a highly contested environment. Technology from this program will transition to the Services.

The Space-Based Adaptive Communications Node (Space-BACN) program seeks to create a reconfigurable intersatellite optical communications terminal that has low size, weight, power, and cost (SWaP-C) and easily integrates onto small satellites, as well as a methodology for cross-constellation command and control (C2). Space-BACN will enable on-orbit communications and data relay between heterogeneous satellite constellations that operate on different optical intersatellite link (OISL) specifications. Today's government and commercial OISL-equipped satellites are unable to communicate with each other due to reliance on single-waveform terminals and a lack of standardization for waveform specifications. Space-BACN will overcome this challenge by developing a modular, reconfigurable optical terminal that is standard-agnostic and able to support most current and future OISL protocols. Space-BACN will also develop a C2 system that controls access and configures connectivity between constellations based on availability and mission requirements. Technology developed under this program will transition to the Services and the Space Development Agency (SDA).

The Strategic Chaos Engine for Planning, Tactics, Experimentation and Resiliency (SCEPTER) program will develop machine-generated strategies for strategic planning. SCEPTER will discover novel and surprising Courses of Action (CoAs) by exploring the high complexity state-action space of military engagements at high machine speeds. High CoA exploration speed is enabled by tailorable abstraction of trusted, expert informed models. A few of the highest performing CoAs will be validated in higher fidelity simulators along with a thorough human review. Initially, SCEPTER will generate synthetic CoAs to identify vulnerabilities in human generated plans. In later stages of the program, SCEPTER will be applied in developing novel plans. Ultimately, SCEPTER will continually evaluate war plans as changes in theater occur (blue and/or red force laydowns, new equipment, etc.) to find new opportunities and weaknesses and help prevent surprise from competitors. Technology developed under this program will transition to the Services.

The Generating Communications Channels to Operate (GeCCO) program will enable secure communications for military operations in contested environments by creating communications paths that assure privacy and availability. This effort will develop advanced and flexible communication architectures that employ new virtual network services. GeCCO will enable communications by leveraging commercial networks. Future distributed operations across the globe will require a small logistical footprint and the flexibility to adapt to the available communication environments (commercial and military). GeCCO will address the secure use of already widespread advanced cellular networks to preserve privacy of communications by preventing pattern-of-life analysis. Technology developed under this program will transition to the Services. Beginning in FY 2026, this program will be funded in PE 0603469E, Project AET-01.

The Space domain Wide Area Tracking & Characterization (Space-WATCH) program will enable real-time persistent tracking of objects in low earth orbit (LEO) and provide actionable intelligence on tactical timescales. Space-WATCH will enable detection and tracking of objects orbiting the Earth on much faster timescales than current ground-based sensors are capable of by combining proliferated, on-orbit sensors with automated data fusion. By working with commercial companies operating in LEO to host low-cost sensors on their space platforms, Space-WATCH will employ thousands of sensors on orbit to continuously gather data. Space-WATCH will utilize automated algorithms to process and fuse all the collected data for anomaly detection and false alarm reduction, making the data useful and actionable to ground-based operators. This comprehensive data set of objects in LEO and real-time information on anomalies will greatly increase the accuracy of the Department of Defense's space situational awareness, as well as enable appropriate responses to anomalies, such as maneuvering space assets out of the way of orbital debris. Technology developed under this program will transition to the U.S. Space Force and Space Development Agency. Beginning in FY 2026, this program will be funded in PE 0603469E, Project AET-01.

The Mechanical Reckoning program is developing capabilities to conduct digital site surveys for force protection. The survey includes a combination of appropriately sourced publicly and commercially available data. The program enables service personnel to conduct their own surveys while improving digital survey coverage, automating analytics, and validating kit performance and usability by service personnel.

The Resilient Software Systems Capstones (RSS Capstones) program, building on technologies developed in the Verified Security and Performance Enhancement of Large Legacy Software and Assured Micropatching program (budgeted in PE 0602303E, Project IT-03), will demonstrate formal methods-based software system development techniques that result in significant and measurable reductions in relevant cyber vulnerabilities on actual Department of Defense (DoD) systems and will document the techniques in best practices guides that facilitate the adoption of formal methods by the DoD and Defense Industrial Base (DIB). Experience in commercial industry has shown that formal methods provide the basis for high assurance software development, sustainment, upgrade, and authority to operate (ATO) capabilities for new and legacy software systems. For new software systems, proof artifacts created using formal methods facilitate the creation of high assurance software systems free of high consequence vulnerabilities. For legacy software systems, formal methods enable a granular ATO process and the rapid insertion of formally attested patches and other modifications and improvements. To operationalize these capabilities, the RSS Capstones program will harden and systematize formal methods-based tools and demonstrate their utility on actual DoD platforms across operational domains to include air, land, sea, and space. Cybersecurity sustainment is a particular focus for the program, including capabilities to produce targeted patches for known security flaws along with proofs that the patches preserve the original baseline functionality and quality attributes of the system - these proofs are the actual enablers of granular ATO and rapid patch deployment. The RSS Capstones program will enable formal methods-based development and sustainment of mission-critical software systems that provide higher levels of assurance than the approaches currently in use by the DoD and DIB. Beginning in FY 2026, this program will be funded in PE 0603469E, Project AET-03.

The Constellation program is comprised of multiple projects that are developing technologies, capabilities, and prototype systems to enable full spectrum military cyberspace operations to defend the U.S. and deter, disrupt, and defeat adversary cyber actors. Technologies of interest include but are not limited to artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and data science (DS); resilient software, networking, and computing systems; formal methods and program analysis; data and information assurance; and cyber threat intelligence. High relevance is achieved through close coordination with U.S. cyber operators and the use of development, security, and operations (DevSecOps) and other collaborative development processes. High velocity is achieved through streamlined acquisition, assessment, approval, and deployment processes. Constellation development and deployment pipelines enable the rapid and continuous delivery of cyber technologies, capabilities, and prototype systems into operational use for the Department of Defense (DoD). The Constellation program is also funded in PE 0602303E, Project IT-03 to facilitate rapid transition of cyber technologies and laboratory prototypes from applied research to operational prototypes. Beginning in FY 2026, this program will be funded in PE 0603469E, Project AET-03 and PE 0602025E, Project MSL-04.

The Carcosa program is developing and demonstrating cyber technologies for use by warfighters during tactical operations. Carcosa cyber technology aims to provide warfighters in the field with enhanced situational awareness of their immediate battlespace. Carcosa technologies are being integrated into prototype tools suitable for use by warfighters with a range of cyber knowledge and skills, including both cyber novices and advanced cyber practitioners. Beginning in FY 2026, this program will be funded in PE 0603469E, Project AET-03.