AFNET

AFNET under the Air Force's Other Procurement budget activity, aims to support Cyberspace Activities by providing Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) solutions to implement, deliver, and upgrade the IT equipment and technology for the Air Force's wide area network (WAN). This includes the procurement of equipment and technology for Air Force Information Network Operations (AFINOps), which encompasses network defense technology. The program also focuses on upgrading critical IT infrastructure at Air Force installations to defend against peer adversary aggression, with a particular emphasis on implementing zero trust cybersecurity principles and software-defined WAN (SD-WAN) implementation. Additionally, the program supports the establishment and transformation of the AFINOps construct toward DoD standards and specifications.

The specific objectives of this budget line item include procuring and installing equipment for network operations, network defense, and overall management of the AFNET Gateways (GWs), Information Management Suite (IMS), and base Service Delivery Point Routers. The program also aims to procure modifications for both Air Force Intranet Control (AFINC) and Cyberspace Security and Control System (CSCS) to contribute to cyber mission assurance, proactive defense, and persistent network operations for the Air Force. These efforts involve fault resolution, lead-in coordination activities at base-level Network Control Centers, monitoring of AF network services, managing boundary protection devices and continuous network situational awareness. The funding increase in FY24 is driven by investments in replacing the current AFNET Gateway boundary equipment with Next Generation Gateway capability to upgrade critical information technology infrastructure needed to defend against adversary aggression.