Space Force seeks industry input on capabilities to meet Kendall imperative

The Space Force is looking to collect industry feedback on a host of capabilities ranging from defensive cyber operations to network architecture as officials seek to meet an Air Force leadership directive surrounding the service’s readiness for moving to a wartime posture against a peer competitor.

The operational imperative that spurred this week’s request for information, is one of seven that Secretary Frank Kendall has issued in recent months. The list has thus far generated three separate solicitations, including the most recent one from the Space Force, as the service aims to gather responses to inform future budget and program decisions, as well as the fiscal year 2024 program objective memorandum.

The latest RFI wants industry to weigh in on one or more of the following “major capability areas,” as stated in the document: defensive cyber operations, including artificial intelligence and machine learning capabilities; ground entry points; network operations and architecture, including resilient communications; and data transport technology development and concepts.

The responses would support Kendall’s sixth imperative, “evaluating readiness of the [Air Force] to transition to a wartime posture against a peer competitor,” the solicitation notes.

Kendall’s other priorities, part of a broader effort to identify the Air Force’s greatest operational challenges and ensure defense officials are directing their analysis efforts toward the right areas, include better focusing the service’s work on developing the Advanced Battle Management System, upping resiliency in basing, improving mobile targeting and more.

Officials plan to hold an ask-me-anything session on Feb. 4 with industry regarding the latest solicitation. Responses are due March 3.