Requirements Analysis & Concept Maturation

Mission — Requirements Analysis & Concept Maturation source

Capability development provides the analytic, technical, and programmatic rigor necessary to address capability gaps and opportunities to refine and mature future programs of record, prioritizing and accelerating transition of capabilities in collaboration with operational stakeholders. The Capability Development Enterprise is focused on maturing and transitioning high-impact warfighting capabilities aligned to Air Force Future Force Design through robust capability development. The Requirements Analysis and Concept Maturation (RACM) program element performs concept refinement and acquisition activities for the Capability Development Enterprise (CDE) through Planning for Development. RACM achieves this through focus on the late-stage capability development, technology maturation and risk reduction, industry planning analysis, pre-program of record development, open system designs, and Analysis of Alternatives (AoA) support. This will include the development of contracting structures that prepare for a competitive industrial base environment. These activities provide the technical basis for acquisition planning, technology transition, and Program of Record (PoR) establishment or integration of a new capability into an existing PoR. RACM provides robust, mission- and threat-informed characterization of systems and capabilities at multiple security levels, working with various appropriate Services, Agencies, and Test organizations to fully define the military utility of, and enhancements to, the USAF Force Design. RACM provides timely, data-driven decision support to senior leaders, fostering effective, affordable, and supportable systems on a path to successful programs of record. RACM supports capability and requirements analysis in support of the CDE, such as Capability Based Assessments (CBA), capability gap analysis/decomposition, Integrated Development Campaigns (IDC), and other activities as needed. Stakeholder coordination as well as acquisition enterprise alignment and advocacy occur in these foundational activities, which are critical for technology advancement and transition. This program element may include necessary civilian pay expenses required to manage, execute, and deliver RACM capabilities. The use of such program funds would be in addition to the civilian pay expenses budgeted in program elements 0605829F, 0605831F, 0605833F, and 0605898F. This requirement supports performance of a full financial audit as required by title 10 U.S.C. Chapter 9A, Sec 240-D. 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.

Mission — Architecture & Integration Core Ops and Gap Assessment source

This BPAC focuses on Planning for Development activities including concept selection, risk reduction, and integration in preparation for transition to a Program of Record (PoR) prior to the establishment of a program management office. Capability Based Assessments (CBA), Analysis of Alternatives (AoA) and similar studies support these activities by providing an evaluation of stakeholder-focused warfighting capabilities via candidate concept technical descriptions. These technical descriptions include open systems and industrial base inputs and analysis to support and enable acquisition, test, and training for current and emerging capability concepts. This includes pre-Milestone A risk reduction, integration, and acquisition planning activities, such as initial product support planning, developing capability concepts, high-confidence initial designs, performance estimation, risk identification, and additional concept refinement in coordination with Department of the Air Force (DAF) priorities. These funds may be used for program management support costs, including, but not limited to, hardware, software, travel, contractor support services, civilian pay, supplies, facilities, and infrastructure. This effort falls under Budget Activity 4, ACD&P, because these efforts are necessary to evaluate integrated technologies, representative modes, or prototype systems in a high-fidelity and realistic operating environment. This program element may include necessary civilian pay expenses required to manage, execute, and deliver RACM capabilities. The use of such program funds would be in addition to the civilian pay expenses budgeted in program elements 0605829F, 0605831F, 0605833F, and 0605898F.

Mission — Maturation and Modernization source

This BPAC matures candidate concepts derived from the Force Design and CDEO priorities, accelerates acquisition timelines, reduces technology risks, demonstrates integration and delivers potential solutions to address warfighting needs. Utilizes modern digital tools and methodologies to render quality data-driven decision space. These activities inform or refine concepts that are not mature enough for acquisition decisions to determine operational viability and/or progress to pre-Program of Record type activities. The BPAC spans various security levels and encompass the later phases of capability development. This may include development of potential contracting structures that prepares a competitive industrial base environment. These funds may be used for program management support costs including but not limited to, hardware, software, travel, contractor support services, civilian pay, supplies, facilities, infrastructure. This program element may include necessary civilian pay expenses required to manage, execute, and deliver RACM capabilities. The use of such program's funds would be in addition to the civilian pay expenses budgeted in program element 0605829F, 0605831F, 0605833F, 0605898F.

Mission — Hard and Deeply Buried Targets (HDBT) source

This BPAC conducts an OSD-directed, Air Force-led effort addressing the Hard and Deeply Buried Targets (HDBT) problem set and recommendations in the National HDBT Strategy. A broad-scope weaponeering analysis and concept refinement effort to develop a threat-informed, technically rigorous, and disciplined understanding of how current and emerging strike capabilities can be combined effectively to engage sophisticated underground military complexes, as reported by the Intelligence Community. Informs DoD-wide intelligence, operational, and acquisition decision space to enable a full spectrum counter-HDBT kill chain, expanding the range of options to hold the most difficult HDBTs at risk. The data and analysis generated may be used in a future Analysis of Alternatives (AoA). Evaluation of the current inventory baseline as well as near-term acquisitions will also drive focused S&T demand signals for desired attributes that will be captured and distributed via appropriate channels. These funds may cover, but are not limited to, hardware, software, travel, personnel and other costs needed to accomplish the mission. This also includes program support and operational support costs necessary to further the program up until the standup of a PoR. This program element may include necessary civilian pay expenses required to manage, execute, and deliver HDBT capabilities. The use of such program's funds would be in addition to the civilian pay expenses budgeted in program element 0605829F, 0605831F, 0605833F, or 0605898F.

Accomplishments & Planned Programs (4)