The FORGE capability architecture is crucial in providing OPIR data to operational warfighters and underpins the U.S. Space Force's shift towards a resilient missile warning, tracking, and defense architecture. It is designed to support ongoing operations of existing Space Based Infrared System (SBIRS) satellites and the forthcoming generations of OPIR sensors, including Next Gen OPIR GEO and Polar, and Resilient Missile Warning / Missile Track Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) space systems. FORGE offers a modern, cyber-resilient, scalable, and government-controlled open architecture that is essential for the rapid development, integration, and deployment of OPIR processing applications in response to emerging threats.
"Our Nation's ability to quickly sense and make sense of OPIR observations is crucial in maintaining decision-making advantage against adversarial threats and their advanced missile technologies," stated U.S. Space Force Col. Robert Davis, program executive officer for Space Sensing. "This effort enables target tracking earlier and for a longer duration, which significantly increases the event custody chain. Timely response to threats requires a modern architecture capable of hosting data from a range of new and legacy sensors that enables the development of applications to address these threats. FORGE's modular architecture with an agile development approach is showing that you can deliver fast even in tough, complex mission areas. I'm extremely excited about what the combined government and industry team has already been able to do, and I look forward to the next operational capability delivery."
"This first delivery is the start of many deliveries to come," said U.S. Space Force Lt. Col. Morgan Sparks, FORGE materiel leader. "Our next delivery will build on our cyber resilience and provide even greater capability to the warfighter, modernizing the operator interface with modern data visualization technologies while significantly improving our nation's ability to detect stealthier and additional quantities of threats sooner, and to track them longer. We look forward to continuing to build upon this strong foundation to enable faster deliveries to operators."
The FORGE framework promotes open architectures that maximize the utilization of the OPIR constellation and accelerate the addition of new capabilities. It also supports the use of various software products, enabling a quick transition to innovative solutions tailored to mission needs. This strategy enhances the opportunities for a broad range of vendors and strengthens the government's access to the latest industry innovations, thereby increasing resiliency in the weapon system and industrial base.
"FORGE has delivered enhanced capabilities to cyber defense operators, empowering them to maneuver within the digital battleground with precision and agility," noted Mr. Michael Abbott Jr., technical director of the 64th Cyberspace Squadron. "Including tactical cyber operations expertise in the earliest stages of planning was momentous. The attention given to both cybersecurity posture and tools has been prominent from the beginning and is the benchmark for how to incorporate cyber capabilities into space mission systems."
This operational delivery extends new OPIR capabilities to the 2d, 8th, and 11th Space Warning Squadrons, as well as the 64th Cyberspace Squadron, marking a significant step towards transforming the Nation's ability to respond to new missile threats by considerably reducing the time between development and operations.
"Partnerships with the operations community have been paramount in our development process," added Mr. Jonwa Kim, senior materiel leader, Strategic Missile Warning Ground Delta. "It is through the strength of these partnerships that will ensure our nation possesses the most advanced strategic missile warning capabilities to meet new and emerging threats."
This initiative demonstrates the capability of hosting vital data processing applications on the FORGE Framework in an operational environment during a robust Operational Acceptance (OA) campaign.
"Ensuring our acquisition efforts further enable operators to combat space threats is paramount in our procurement and development processes," remarked U.S. Space Force Capt. Malik McCoy, FORGE framework program manager and former Space Delta 4 operator. "Our shoulder-to-shoulder partnership with operational users provided relevant perspectives and shaped our approach. We drove cyber resilience and advanced mission applications into the system, transitioning our legacy systems to a more modern architecture. These efforts are paramount to provide a timely defense to counter new and emerging missile threats."
Space Systems Command, the U.S. Space Force's field command responsible for acquiring, developing, and delivering resilient capabilities and critical technologies to protect our nation's strategic advantage in, from, and to space, manages a $15.6 billion space acquisition budget for the Department of Defense and collaborates with joint forces, industry, government agencies, academic, and allied organizations to accelerate innovation and outpace emerging threats. Our actions today are making the world a better space for tomorrow.
Related Links
Space Systems Command
Military Space News at SpaceWar.com
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