General Information Tech - Space

The General Information Tech - Space line item in the Department of the Air Force's Fiscal Year 2026 budget request supports the procurement of information technology systems and infrastructure critical to the U.S. Space Force's mission. This line item encompasses three primary program elements: Space Innovation, Integration and Rapid Technology Development (SIIRTD), Range and Adversary, and Training and Readiness. Each program is designed to address specific operational and training needs within the Space Force, ensuring that space operations remain secure, effective, and technologically advanced.

Space Innovation, Integration and Rapid Technology Development (SIIRTD) is focused on supporting the Space Force Analysis Center's Advanced Virtual Analysis Capability (AVAC) system. The AVAC system provides a comprehensive platform for conducting, supporting, and reporting analysis using a variety of tools, data, models, and simulations. The primary goal is to enable leadership to make data-driven decisions regarding space and cyber assets by quantifying operational impacts. Funding is allocated for upgrading end-of-life hardware and software to maintain compliance with security requirements, as well as for procuring new IT infrastructure to support ongoing modeling and analysis efforts.

Range and Adversary is executed by the Space Training and Readiness Command (STARCOM) at Peterson Space Force Base. This program supports the Department of Defense's only Space Test and Training Range, which is essential for developing and validating space control techniques and conducting space test, training, and exercise activities. A key objective is to provide realistic threat replication through the use of commercial off-the-shelf GPS and SATCOM equipment. Funding is directed toward recapitalizing aging equipment, increasing SATCOM and GPS asset availability, and ensuring that space aggressors can accurately replicate adversary threats in training environments. Sustained funding is necessary to maintain a credible adversary force and to prepare joint and coalition partners for contested space operations.

The Range and Adversary program also enables the Space Force's professional adversary force to integrate across domains, providing expertise in multi-domain adversary operations and tactics. This includes educating U.S. Space Force, Air Force, Joint, and Coalition personnel on evolving threats and executing advanced threat replication in exercises. The program covers the full spectrum of space and counter-space threats, including GPS electronic attack, satellite communication electronic attack, orbital warfare, and adversary SATCOM network operations.

Training and Readiness is also managed by STARCOM and is guided by the Air Force Operational Training Infrastructure 2035 Flight Plan. The objective is to achieve full-spectrum readiness for space forces through a holistic and integrated training approach. Funding is used to procure IT hardware and software for the Distributed Communications Architecture (DCA), which supports Distributed Mission Operations (DMO) for Space. The DCA enables network-based communications for dispersed personnel, allowing participation in exercises, wargames, and advanced training events without the need for physical co-location.

The Training and Readiness program's DMO capability provides a high-fidelity synthetic battlespace and world-class exercise control, supporting joint distributed warfighter training, testing, and experimentation at both operational and tactical levels. This architecture also supports limited command and control capabilities for space operations, enhancing the Space Force's ability to train and operate in a distributed and resilient manner. The funding request was adjusted downward to reflect the availability of prior year balances, ensuring efficient use of resources.