Cyber Resiliency of Weapon Systems-ACS

The Cyber Resiliency of Weapon Systems-ACS program (PE 0604414F) is a Department of the Air Force (DAF) initiative focused on enhancing the cyber resilience of both emerging and fielded weapon systems. Managed by the Cyber Resiliency Office for Weapon Systems (CROWS) within the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, this program is aligned with the National Defense Strategy's emphasis on integrated deterrence and cyber survivability. Its primary objective is to ensure that DAF weapon systems remain mission-effective in contested cyber environments by mitigating critical cyber-based vulnerabilities through advanced research, development, and prototyping activities.

The Acquisition/System Security Engineering project is the largest and most comprehensive effort within this program element. Its goals include developing and disseminating standardized system security engineering processes, policies, and contracting language to ensure cyber requirements are addressed throughout the weapon system lifecycle. This project also supports intelligence collection and engagement with the intelligence community to maintain up-to-date awareness of cyber threats, enabling risk-informed acquisition decisions. A key objective is the integration of Cyber Focus Teams into Program Executive Offices and Program Management Offices, providing specialized cyber expertise to bridge knowledge gaps in acquisition programs. The project further invests in educational initiatives, digital engineering tools for vulnerability assessments, secure environments for classified information sharing, and government-owned guidance for implementing strategic cyber policies such as Zero Trust.

The Mitigations project is dedicated to identifying, validating, and prototyping solutions to address known cyber vulnerabilities in fielded weapon systems, subsystems, and support systems. The project partners with system owners and acquisition offices to develop and transition both material and non-material mitigations, ensuring that solutions are demonstrated in realistic, high-fidelity environments before operational deployment. This activity also supports the development of implementation strategies and roadmaps for major cyber policies across the DAF. The Mitigations project serves as the focal point for enterprise-level cyber mitigation efforts, enabling CROWS to coordinate and prioritize resources to address the most critical vulnerabilities affecting mission assurance.

The Mission Risk Analysis project focuses on collecting and analyzing data from across the DAF to understand the cyber vulnerability landscape and inform senior leadership investment strategies. This project institutionalizes a Data Capture Repository and Analytics Team to aggregate information from Program Executive Office portfolios and test and evaluation activities, supporting data-driven prioritization of research and mitigation efforts. The insights generated by Mission Risk Analysis directly inform the other CROWS projects, ensuring that enterprise cyber vulnerability and mitigation needs are addressed in a coordinated and strategic manner.

The overarching justification for the Cyber Resiliency of Weapon Systems-ACS program is the increasing sophistication of cyber threats targeting U.S. military capabilities. The program addresses the need for a centralized, coordinated approach to cyber resiliency, eliminating duplicative efforts across individual weapon system programs and industry partners. By consolidating expertise and resources within CROWS, the DAF achieves cost efficiencies while accelerating the development and deployment of effective cyber defenses.

All activities within this program element are funded under Budget Activity 4: Advanced Component Development and Prototypes, reflecting the focus on evaluating integrated technologies and prototyping solutions in high-fidelity environments. The acquisition strategy leverages a mix of competitively awarded and sole-source contracts, with major support provided by organizations such as MITRE, Carnegie Mellon University/Software Engineering Institute, and the Trusted Systems and Networks Center of Excellence. The program also emphasizes continuous collaboration with the intelligence community and the Defense Industrial Base to ensure comprehensive coverage of emerging threats and supply chain risks.