AF JWICS Enterprise

The AF JWICS Enterprise program is a new initiative under the Air Force's Research, Development, Test & Evaluation (RDT&E) budget, specifically within Budget Activity 7 for Operational Systems Development. Its primary goal is to modernize, develop, procure, and sustain the Air Force's Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) enterprise, focusing on secure information sharing, advanced targeting, and identity management. The program is designed to upgrade systems that have already been fielded or approved for full-rate production. This ensures continued operational relevance and security for the Air Force's intelligence infrastructure.

A major objective of the AF JWICS Enterprise is the implementation of Identity, Credentialing, and Access Management (ICAM) solutions, managed by the National Air and Space Intelligence Center (NASIC). ICAM is foundational to the Department of the Air Force's Zero Trust architecture, providing robust user authentication, credential management, and access control based on resource sensitivity. The budget supports developing ICAM capabilities, including new authentication drivers for disconnected, denied, intermittent, and limited (DDIL) environments and Special Access Program (SAP) networks. It also funds enhancements to the resolution service and performance tuning. The program aims to integrate machine learning frameworks to support behavioral authentication and authorization decisions, improving forensic analysis and operational security.

Another significant line item within the AF JWICS Enterprise is JTIM (Joint Targeting Integrated Management), which is a collaborative effort between the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence & Security (OUSD(I&S)) and the Joint Staff J2T. JTIM's goal is to deliver a modern, integrated, cloud-based capability for the Joint Force targeting enterprise. JTIM funds support the development and integration of the WARPATH tool, which streamlines target list management and enterprise workflow. These capabilities unify the Defense Intelligence Enterprise (DIE) targeting workforce, enhance target intelligence data, and provide timely, accurate aimpoints for both lethal and non-lethal operations. JTIM also supports the transition from legacy systems to a federated, enterprise-wide targeting architecture.

The IC-ITE (Intelligence Community Information Technology Enterprise) line item is focused on enabling greater integration, information sharing, and safeguarding within the broader Intelligence Community (IC). Managed by Air Combat Command (ACC), IC-ITE receives funding for expert contract support in developing critical data capabilities. The program emphasizes the design and delivery of advanced technology solutions for seamless interoperability across operational units, including data engineering, ontologies, semantics, taxonomies, and data architecture. These efforts support Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) and ensure data interoperability across Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR), Command and Control (C2), and Fires mission domains, as well as with joint and allied partners.

The AF JWICS Enterprise program also includes funding for civilian pay expenses required to manage, execute, and deliver weapon system capability. While no funds were expended for civilian pay in prior years, the program notes that such expenses may be necessary in addition to those budgeted in other related program elements. The acquisition strategy for the program anticipates a mix of contract types, with annual assessments to determine the most effective approach for product development, testing, and integration.