Space Domain Awareness/Planning/Tasking SW

The Space Domain Awareness/Planning/Tasking (PE 1208248SF) program is a United States Space Force (USSF) initiative focused on the research, development, test, and evaluation (RDT&E) of advanced software and digital technology capabilities. Its primary objective is to deliver robust, responsive Space Domain Awareness (SDA) and Battle Management Command and Control (BMC2) tools to meet the needs of USSF, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM), Space Operations Command (SpOC), and other operational centers. This program is structured under Budget Activity 8, which allows for agile development, procurement, sustainment, modification, and maintenance activities to be managed within a single appropriation. This approach streamlines the lifecycle of software acquisition and deployment.

The SDA/Planning/Tasking Development line item is dedicated to enhancing the ability to detect, track, and characterize objects in space, perform threat analysis, and enable efficient data distribution across the Space Surveillance Network (SSN). Key goals include developing decision-relevant views of the space and multi-domain environment, integrating traditional and non-traditional data sources, and supporting rapid response to emerging threats. The program leverages modern software practices such as agile-based Rapid Delivery Framework (RDF) with 90-day Program Increments, ensuring frequent and incremental delivery of new capabilities. Planned enhancements for FY 2025 and FY 2026 include expanding open architecture standards, machine-to-machine event processing, artificial intelligence integration, and the replacement of legacy systems to improve operational efficiency and resiliency.

The SDA/Planning/Tasking Sustainment line item focuses on maintaining and optimizing existing capabilities for the National Space Defense Center (NSDC), Combined Space Operations Center (CSpOC), and other command and control centers. Objectives include updating and modifying legacy software, managing Commercial Off The Shelf (COTS) databases, removing obsolete systems, and ensuring the reliability, security, and scalability of warfighter tools. Sustaining foundational DevSecOps enablers such as Data as a Service, Zero Trust Architecture, and CI/CD toolchains is integral to this effort. In FY 2026, the program plans to transition infrastructure to a hardware-as-a-service model and expand support to higher security levels, including Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI).

The SDA/Planning/Tasking Platform Development and Sustainment lines are aimed at building and maintaining the underlying software platforms and infrastructure necessary for SDA and BMC2 operations. These efforts include platform support, continuous improvement/deployment pipelines, and integration of commercial, contractor, and government applications. The program seeks to enhance scalability, performance, and reliability, supporting simultaneous operations across multiple sites and classification levels. Platform sustainment activities also involve connectivity enhancements, on-site manpower, and training to ensure operational readiness and resilience.

The SDA/Planning/Tasking Data as a Service (DaaS) component provides critical data management and distribution services across the enterprise. Its objectives are to enable secure, reliable, and flexible data access for mission applications, support open frameworks and architectures, and maintain continuous improvement in data engineering and science. This supports both operational and analytical needs, facilitating rapid decision-making and situational awareness in contested space environments.

The SDA/Planning/Tasking Enterprise Systems Engineering & Integration and Technical Mission Analysis lines support dedicated systems engineering, integration, test and evaluation, model-based systems engineering, and prototype validation/verification. These activities ensure that new capabilities are effectively integrated, tested, and validated before deployment, reducing risk and enhancing mission effectiveness. Technical mission analysis also leverages partnerships with commercial, government, and international entities to address emerging threats with speed and agility.

The Space Domain Awareness/Planning/Tasking program employs a competitive acquisition strategy, with multiple contractors supporting various aspects of development and sustainment. The program is guided by Department of Defense Instruction 5000.87 and a tailored acquisition approach that emphasizes rapid delivery, continuous improvement, and collaboration across government, industry, and allied partners. Funding adjustments in FY 2026 reflect accelerated development for advanced SDA processing, exploitation, and theater support enhancements, as well as integration with BMC2 systems and infrastructure upgrades to meet evolving operational requirements.