The I3E project, under a $19.8 million contract with a one-year performance period beginning December 1, and potential extension for three more years, aims to mature the digital ecosystem's capabilities. This initiative is a significant step in delivering state-of-the-art capabilities to enhance the mission effectiveness of the Space Force.
Shannon Pallone, the program executive officer for Battle Management Command, Control, and Communications (BMC3), emphasized the strategic importance of I3E. "Leveraging emerging game-changers like I3E enhances our ability to gain situational awareness and enable decision-makers to act at a higher velocity than our adversaries," Pallone noted. The focus within BMC3 is on developing a digital environment that includes I3E to expedite the development, assessment, and delivery of improved space capabilities.
Built on Microsoft's Azure cloud infrastructure, the I3E offers a flexible and secure platform supporting a broad spectrum of Space Force missions. Its current capabilities include physics-based space environment and satellite simulation, space intelligence collection and scheduling, strategic orbital wargaming, and augmented reality space simulation.
The pursuit of accreditation to handle both Unclassified and Classified information is a critical step for I3E, enabling the SSC to transition these prototype capabilities into operational use. Leveraging widely adopted commercial standards and best practices, I3E aims to integrate new capabilities rapidly and securely, keeping the Space Force abreast with adversaries.
Jason Zander, executive vice president of Strategic Missions and Technologies at Microsoft, highlighted the partnership's significance. "This modernization journey presents an opportunity to deepen our relationship as we support the U.S. Space Force in adopting state-of-the-art solutions to more rapidly meet their evolving mission needs," Zander said.
A particularly notable feature of I3E is its augmented reality space simulation powered by Microsoft's HoloLens headsets. It offers a real-time display of orbital objects, allowing users to interact with them in a scaled space environment. This tool provides Guardians the ability to integrate new and emerging space capabilities into the environment, enhancing understanding of their impacts on the overall space architecture. The I3E's potential was evident when 1st Lt. Jordan Savage from SSC's Information Mobility Branch described training with the augmented reality tool as "mind-blowing."
Currently accessible at its Los Angeles node, I3E is set to expand its reach. It will eventually be accessible to Guardians everywhere through a Virtual Desktop, scaling to support additional Space Force locations, mission sets, and classification levels.
Col. Richard Kniseley, senior materiel leader for the Commercial Space Office at SSC, lauded the I3E's benefits. "Continuing the development and deployment of the I3E is going to pay huge dividends for our Guardians. Watching our young Guardians interact with the cutting-edge technology the I3E offers is impressive," he remarked.
This effort will continue under the BMC3 Program Executive Office, which focuses on delivering advanced, resilient, and integrated Space C3 systems. The I3E forms a part of BMC3's digital transformation initiatives aimed at expanding the use of digital solutions in the Space Force.
Related Links
Space Systems Command
Military Space News at SpaceWar.com
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