Space

"The DoD Space
Architect's ... 
office develops
architectural
recomendations
to enhance  the
utility and
affordability of
current and future
space systems."

   General. The drive for advanced MILSATCOM is based on growing user need. With the relocation of likely conflict from the fixed battlefields of Western Europe to less-developed regions, and with the increasing information appetite of technologically advanced weapons, the reliance of our deployed forces on robust space-based communications has risen exponentially. From 1 gigabit per second (Gbps) in overall communications throughput capacity needed to meet information demands during Desert Storm, we may need a 10-Gbps capacity by 2010. Beyond technical performance needs, jointness of operations, consolidation of resources and trends in the marketplace generated guidance to:

Accommodate all stakeholders' needs;

Balance DoD-owned and commercial systems; and

Consider international cooperation.

   This two-phase activity is providing a road map for systems development and investment strategy. Phase I, Architecture Development, is now complete, and the work has transitioned to DUSD(S) for Phase II, Architecture Implementation. Phase I products are consistent with the Operational and Systems Architectures defined in the C4ISR Architecture Framework, and the technical features of prospective acquisitions (under Phase II) are expected to be consistent with the Framework's Technical Architectures.

   Phase I. The Space Architect's objectives and goals for the future MILSATCOM are summarized in the table below.

   The Architect's work went well beyond defining out-year MILSATCOM objectives and architectural and transition goals. For each communications service and supporting area, the study report includes both transition strategies and programmatic recommendations to help the DoD move toward the MILSATCOM Objective Architecture. These decision sequences are designed to replace legacy systems in time to avoid serious operational risk (pending adjustment for future facts and information), and to provide transition support to the Office of the DUSD(S) (ODUSD(S)) for Phase II during the next year and beyond.

   Additional Space Architect contributions from Phase I will facilitate ODUSD(S) stewardship of Phase II. These include specific decision timetables, which evolved from "strawman" road maps, and several policy recommendations, which parallel some initiatives already underway.

   As ODUSD(S) prepares to initiate and coordinate the transition effort, USSPACECOM is prioritizing the requirements to reflect cost-constrained user needs and industry is "rewriting the book" on commercial SATCOM. The U.S. commercial sector alone now has more than 2-1/2 times the number of satellites on orbit as the DoD, and industry is investing several times our SATCOM budget every year. Thus, our challenge will be how we are going to leverage the commercial market to meet our own collective needs and preserve militarily required capabilities. We want to apply that same kind of thinking to space and provide room for expanded capabilities and growth. If we can't do it in SATCOM, we won't be able to do it anywhere.