Command, Control, Communication, and Computers (C4) - STRATCOM

The Command, Control, Communication, and Computers (C4) - STRATCOM program, under Program Element (PE) 0303255F, is a Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation (RDT&E) initiative managed by the Air Force in support of U.S. Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM). The primary goal of this program is to enhance and modernize the Nuclear Command, Control, and Communications (NC3) architecture, ensuring resilient, secure, and effective communication and control capabilities for national defense. The program addresses both current operational needs and future technological advancements, with a focus on enterprise operations, systems engineering, risk assessment, and the integration of innovative solutions.

The NC3 Enterprise Center (NEC) is the central project within this program element, tasked by the Secretary of Defense to oversee and monitor the operations and security of the NC3 enterprise. The NEC's objectives include developing tools for monitoring the readiness of NC3 systems, capturing operational risks posed by evolving adversary threats, and supporting the governance of NC3 with advanced digital engineering capabilities. The NEC collaborates with military services and partners to explore new technologies, conduct systems engineering assessments, and develop metrics to proactively identify and address system vulnerabilities before they impact critical operations.

The NC3 Systems Engineering and Assessments line item supports the continuous evaluation and modernization of NC3 systems. Its goals are to maintain end-to-end connectivity from warning sensors to national decision-makers and executing forces, update the NC3 Roadmap, and develop reference and technical architectures to guide future solution development. The program also focuses on mission engineering, trade space analysis, and the development of interoperability standards to ensure seamless integration across the NC3 enterprise. These efforts inform enterprise-level investments and support the modernization of command centers and related infrastructure.

The Strategic Mission Research and Development Effort under this program supports USSTRATCOM's Unified Command Plan (UCP) missions, including the NC3 Watch Floor, the Defense Critical Infrastructure Program (DCIP), and the Mission Assurance Risk Management System (MARMS). This effort leverages scientific and technological research to analyze and assess the impacts of potential disruptions to critical systems and infrastructure. It also supports the development of artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML) solutions for targeting and mission assurance analysis tools, providing USSTRATCOM with advanced capabilities to assess dependencies, risks, vulnerabilities, and mitigation strategies for both natural and man-made events.

The NC3 Enterprise Center REACH (Rapid Engineering Architecture Collaboration Hub) is a key Congressional add, receiving dedicated funding to establish and maintain a collaborative network capability. The REACH facility supports experimentation, demonstration, and technology transfer activities, enabling cross-agency collaboration among USSTRATCOM, the Navy, Air Force, and intelligence partners. Its objectives include building collaborative IT infrastructure, supporting modeling and simulation for NC3 modernization, and informing future architectures through secure experimentation and prototyping.

The NC3 Network Sensor Demonstration is another Congressional add focused on advancing cybersecurity and network monitoring capabilities within the NC3 enterprise. This initiative supports the deployment and operationalization of cyber instrumentation pilots, network sensors, and analytics tools to monitor and protect critical infrastructure. It includes training programs, collaboration with cyber protection teams, and the exploration of AI/ML, cloud, and zero trust architectures to enhance cyber defense. The demonstration aims to inform broader DoD and service-specific cyber initiatives and support supply chain verification and incident response capabilities.

The program also includes a Classified Distributed Command and Control effort, which supports distributed command and control systems at USSTRATCOM headquarters and remote locations. This classified initiative is coordinated with the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) and the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) Policy, and is designed to ensure secure and resilient command and control capabilities in support of national security objectives. PE 0303255F is focused on sustaining and modernizing the NC3 enterprise through targeted research, engineering, and collaborative innovation, addressing both immediate operational needs and long-term strategic challenges.