U.S. Space Force Seeks Innovative Technologies for Space Situational Awareness and Cyber Security
Date: May 7, 2025
In a strategic move to bolster the security of U.S. and allied space assets, the U.S. Space Force is actively engaging the industry to explore pioneering concepts in space and cyber security. This initiative aims to develop counter-space technologies designed to defend against emerging threats.
Officials from the U.S. Air Force Special Programs Directorate, based in El Segundo, California, have released a broad agency announcement (FA8819-24-R-B003) regarding the FreeSol project, which focuses on integrated space and cyber security solutions.
Key Research Areas
The agency has identified five critical topics for research:
- Resiliency: Enhancing the survivability of space systems through proliferation strategies, adherence to commercial standards, multi-domain resource sharing, data interchange, redundancies, and rapid system reconstitution.
- Space Situational Awareness: Developing cost-effective and robust ground systems with low size, weight, and power (SWaP) requirements, alongside ground and space-based environmental sensors.
- Counter-Space Technologies: Crafting defensive and offensive measures to safeguard U.S. and allied space systems, including capability gap studies and satellite servicing techniques.
- Operational Efficiencies: Integrating space data analytics tools to manage large datasets effectively and implementing AI and automation to optimize space missions.
- Training and Assessment Methods: Enhancing exercises, testing scenarios, and training environments through innovative solutions, including ride-share systems and inter-satellite linkages for small satellites.
Experts in the Space Force are open to proposals ranging from preliminary concepts to advanced systems, spanning Technology Readiness Levels 3 to 9.
Submission Guidelines
Interested companies are encouraged to submit 10-page concept papers by 23 February 2029. Submissions should be directed through appropriate channels, including NIPR, SIPR, JWICS, SGN, and SIC to the Contracting Officer 1st Lt. Heeyeun Joo, Security POC John Stelling, and Alternate Contracting Officer Robert Chernoff via the provided email addresses.
Promising submissions may lead to invitations for comprehensive proposals. Additional details can be found at SAM.gov.
About the Author: John Keller serves as the Editor-in-Chief for Military & Aerospace Electronics Magazine, providing in-depth analysis of electronics in military, space, and commercial aviation applications since 1989.
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