DISN Systems Engineering Support
The Defense Information Systems Network (DISN) RDT&E Funding supports the following: DISN Networking: TR (formally known as Next Generation Networking Technologies): Provides engineering technical expertise to update the global network with the latest technologies. These new technologies provide protected and assured services for critical global, all theater support to the warfighter as well as other DoW and federal customers that consume services from the Defense Information Systems Network (DISN). Specific technical focus is on assured, dynamic global communications networks that can operate under various adversarial threat and risk conditions. Other RDT&E investments are made in ensuring operational and network operating systems that instrument and automate the operations, administration, maintenance, and provisioning functions creating a single DISN-wide view for network managers and operators. DRSN: Supports Peripheral and Component Re-Design between DRSN and its operators. The efforts within this program satisfy unique military requirements for multi-level secure voice services and conferencing capabilities in support of the Defense Red Switch Network (DRSN), a critical component of the National Military Command System (NMCS). Commercial equipment is not certified by the NSA to perform necessary encryption requirements of DRSN and Secure Voice Conferencing. Additionally, RDT&E funding supports the development, testing, and fielding of a prototype of the modern Multi-Level Secure Voice and Video (MLSV2) conference capability. The MLSV2 effort will provide a modern, flexible, and interoperable voice, video, and chat conferencing capability through standard protocols, interfaces, and hardware (HW) and software (SW) orchestration. MLSV2 will permit conferencing at three classification levels with one system. DoW Mobility: Mobility is leading the research, development, and deployment of Enterprise Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) and classified mobile technologies. The goal of this effort is to increase information sharing and use of secure mobile devices across the global DoW. The continued evolution and expansion of mobility capabilities will revolutionize the way Combatant Commands, Services, and Agencies work by enabling on-demand access to services and information anytime, anywhere.
FY2027 planned work • Continue the technical evolution of the global backbone through the development of secure network architectures, prototyping and evaluation of new DISN services and service delivery models, and the insertion of transformational open source and commercial products into the DISN. • Accelerate the DISN service delivery model through new and enhanced proof-of-concept testing methodologies. • Evaluation and development of transformational network tools supporting digital engineering concepts aiding in network planning and provisioning automation.
FY2026 to FY2027 change The increase of +$0.080 million from FY 2026 to FY 2027 is due to labor and hardware cost increase.
FY2026 plans — current year • Continue technical evolution of global backbone, supporting development and deployment of several prototype efforts and next generation of capabilities in theater. • Develop software solutions to support lab automation and research on network data science, high speed network telemetry and next generation backbone.
FY2025 accomplishments • Technical evolution of global backbone, supporting development and deployment of several prototype efforts and next generation of capabilities in theater. • Will conduct technology experimentation in novel transport medium and development of classified countermeasure capabilities to further enhance and modernize the overall DISN/DoD global communications backbone to include support to classified areas.
FY2027 planned work DRSN: Begin ECTOCRYP Black development project. ECTOCRYP Black is a device that provides high-capacity, secure voice encryption for classified communications up to the Top-Secret level. (ECD: 30 Sep 2028).
FY2026 to FY2027 change The decrease of -$28.145 million from FY 2026 to FY 2027 is a result of completion of MLSV2 RDT&E activities and shift to sustainment.
FY2026 plans — current year • Complete integration of the MLSV2 prototype. MLSV2 must be available at nine nodes with three classification levels. DISA will integrate the MLSV2 prototype with existing communications networks in three environments. • Develop security operations functions to protect MLSV2. DISA will manage the security of the prototype in three environments and must invest in the appropriate security. • Create the capacity to provide Tier I, II, and II support for MLSV2 users. • Achieve MLSV2 Initial Operating Capability in FY 2026 Q4. DISA will deploy the MLSV2 prototype in three Operational Environments as needed for our partners. • Test three classification levels with three operational nodes. •…
FY2025 accomplishments • Build the MLSV2 multi-level prototype: Develop, test and field two levels with three node multilevel secure (MLS) conference control, MLS adjudicated conferencing demonstrating multiple simulated security domains using a Conference Operator. The prototype will be a true representation of the capability and be used when deployed operationally. • Test within lab environment with various classified systems. • Bring MLSV2 to a limited production capability (Note: Due to funding delays, MLSV2 will now achieve IOC in FY 2026). • Replace DRSN Channel Encryption Unit (CEU). • Conduct ECTOCRYP Black Development.
FY2027 planned work • Conduct technical assessments of mobile text messaging platforms to determine appropriate policy, technical feasibility, and compliance pathways for retaining, auditing, and securely storing mobile text communications across DoW-managed mobility platform. • Assess mobile gateway modernization needs to enable Enterprise Gray adoption at scale, including enhancements to routing, VPN services, encryption modules, logging, and traffic inspection capabilities required to secure mobile communications across gray transport channels. • Pilot deployment of AI-driven mobile threat defense (MTD) to detect anomalous device behavior. • Deploy advanced application-vetting and threat detection tools…
FY2026 to FY2027 change The increase of +$0.107 million from FY 2026 to FY 2027 reflects the ramp-up of planned activities, including the fielding of Classified Retransmission Devices (RDs), expansion of Zero Trust integration across unclassified and classified mobility environments, enhancement of Mobile DLP/DRM, and the continued development of cross-domain and 5G mobility capabilities to meet growing operational requirements.
FY2026 plans — current year • Initiate limited fielding of the new tethered classified mobility solution for select DoW mission partners. • Investigate and implement enhancements to the Commercial Solutions for Classified (CSfC) architecture, including adoption of a layered security framework, modernization of components to meet updated NSA cybersecurity standards and emerging protocol requirements, and expansion of CSfC service options to support rapid deployment of secure classified communications. • Integrate enterprise mobile data lose prevention (DLP) controls into DISA-managed mobility platforms to prevent unauthorized data access, transfer, or exfiltration across DoW mobile devices and applications. • Deploy…
FY2025 accomplishments • Operational testing and evaluation associated with the migration from the legacy DoD Mobility Unclassified Capability (DMUC) capability to the cloud-based Unified Endpoint Management (UEM) solution to promote visibility across all classified endpoints. • Completing DMUC migration to UEM. • Deploying a single UEM capability for classified management and security will offer increased efficiencies and reduce operational complexities. • Testing and evaluating a remote management capability for the Defense Mobility Classified Capability – Secret (DMCC-S) Gray Network to allow control of operational components and greater interoperability and flexibility for DMCC-S network management.