Latest RFI tied to Kendall's imperatives centers on space cyber test, training 

Defense officials are seeking industry feedback surrounding the creation of space cyber demonstration and training events in their latest notice tied to Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall's operational imperatives.

Spurred by a Kendall directive calling for assessing the service’s readiness for moving toward a wartime posture involving a peer competitor, Space Systems Command posted a request for information Thursday aiming to gauge the current availability and maturity of operating models that feature “accurate, space-based physics environments” for live, virtual and on-orbit trainings.

That environment, the notice states, should be customizable and allow for the plug-in of independent cyber tools. Respondents are also asked to address their ability to generate multiple environments, employ threats at scale, connect multiple cyber environments to one another, support blue and red representations simultaneously and more as part of both large-scale and mission-focused situations.

Beyond that, the RFI lists a number of areas of interest, including data integration from sensor libraries into mission scenarios and associated data collection and analysis work, among others.

The notice is the latest in recent weeks from the Air Force and Space Force as officials have rushed to gather input in time to shape the fiscal year 2024 program objective memorandum recommendations and future budget and program decisions.

Earlier this month, military space officials characterized Kendall’s seven imperatives -- which include beefing up mobile targeting and acquiring passive air base defensive capabilities -- as "marching orders."

Responses to the RFI are due March 17.