(RFI) for Networking the Fight Capabilities to Bring Information Sharing to the Tactical Edge

Background
The Air Force Research Laboratory, Information Directorate (AFRL/RI) is seeking information from industry on the landscape of research and development (R&D) for developing Networking the Fight (NtF) capabilities to flexibly share information at the tactical edge while appearing seamless to operational users. The purpose of this RFI is to conduct market research on technologies to support the future fight, which necessitates a transition from today's pre-planned information transport across kill-chains to the future's resilient, dynamic, ad-hoc information transport across kill-webs. This transition requires innovative approaches to move information across security domains, coupled with dynamic network management and control of information flows over highly dynamic heterogeneous network topologies across ground, air, and space.

Work Details
The Networking the Fight capability is comprised of three Lines of Effort (LOE): 1) Next Generation Cross Domain Solution 2) Highly Dynamic Red/Black Networks, and 3) Modeling, Simulation, and Analysis. The goal is to develop and deliver government-purpose data rights, software-defined, modular extensible technology, which can be hosted on SWaP-C constrained platforms. Providers will possess the abilities to analyze, design, develop, produce, test, and sustain the identified capabilities.

The identification of network information exchange requirements (IERs) and definition of interface control documents (ICDs) of each network and node type are critical to support effective mission execution. Input/output level specification must exist across the LOEs to ensure interoperability across the technologies and across multiple vendors.