Advanced Research

The threat is evolving and becoming more complex, which introduces new challenges for missile defense. Some of these complex challenges include the volume of threats, system performance in raids, latency across the kill chain, communication between disparate systems, performance in a contested environment and cybersecurity of networks/systems. These challenges to missile defense require more disruptive capabilities like the following: - Kinetic & hypersonic defense in the areas of advanced sensing and low-cost systems. - Non-kinetics and electronic warfare. - Next generation command, control & integration. - Disruptive technology and space demonstrations. - NIC. - Cyber Protection / Information Assurance. The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) Advanced Capability Office provides enhancements to the missile defense system by focusing on accelerated delivery of disruptive capabilities to the warfighter by pursuing rapid prototypes and demonstrations with incremental capability deliveries. The activities utilize two/three-year technology sprints and lean project teams to support rapid development and transition to the Warfighter for evolving regional and homeland missile threats. The funds requested in this PE provide both legacy and Global Missile Defense Capability development for the United States, its deployed forces, allies, and partners. The capabilities funded by this budget request are complementary to the architecture funded by the Golden Dome Program's separate budget request and together fulfill the President's Executive Order 14186. The President's January 27, 2025, Executive Order established a goal of protecting the U.S. citizens, safeguarding critical infrastructure, and securing second-strike capability against missile attack from any adversary. This program and budget in addition to the budget requested by the Golden Dome Program Office reflects the changes necessary to protect the U.S. against ballistic, hypersonic, cruise, and other advanced missile threats.

PWS contains non-headquarters management costs in support of Missile Defense Agency (MDA) functions and activities across the entire Missile Defense System. These functions include Government Civilians and Contract Support Services. This effort provides integrity and oversight of the Missile Defense System as well as supports MDA in the development and evaluation of technologies that will respond to the changing threat. Additionally, PWS includes personnel to support global deployments, performing deployment site preparation and activation, and provides facility capabilities for MDA Executing Agent locations worldwide. Other MDA wide costs include: physical and technical security; civilian drug testing; audit readiness; the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) program; legal services and settlements; travel and agency training; office equipment, vehicle, and warehouse leases; utilities and base operations across multiple geographic locations; commercial and ancillary facility services; management of all facility aspects regardless of lifecycle stage; supplies and maintenance; compliance with statutory environmental requirements; data and unified communications support; materiel and readiness and central property management of equipment; Facilities Sustainment, Restoration and Modernization (FSRM) program (formerly Real Property Maintenance) to keep the Department's inventory of facilities in good working order; and similar operating expenses. PWS is allocated on a pro-rata basis across most Agency PEs and therefore fluctuates per PE by FY based on the total Agency budget in that FY.

This Cyber operations project supports both the security and effective execution of program office mission-related activities. Cybersecurity efforts include monitoring and tracking mitigations as required by Department of Defense Instruction Number 8510.01, as amended, or other applicable Department of War (DoW) cybersecurity guidance, establishing Risk Management Framework (RMF) requirements for DoW Information Technology (IT). Funds implement and sustain DoW-required RMF, associated Controls Validation Testing, and hardware/software upgrades to meet DoW standards. Activities include analysis of validation results, risk assessments, and reviews of Program Manager/Information Assurance System Security Manager Plans of Action and Milestones (POAMs) for enabling modeling and simulation mission systems. RMF documentation (artifacts, validation and Information Assurance (IA) risk assessment results, and Missile Defense Agency (MDA) Authorizing Official and Chief Information Officer accreditation decisions) are captured in the Defense Information Systems Agency's Enterprise Mission Assurance Support Service system. Independent verification and validation team actions ensure the availability, integrity, authentication, confidentiality, and non-repudiation of MDA mission, test, and administrative systems, in compliance with the Federal Information Security Management Act. Essential enterprise and end-user support required to execute program office-specific mission-related activities include activities for systems supporting end user, unified communications (wireless services), business automation, portal and data services, networks and infrastructure, Video Teleconferencing services, connectivity to industry and other government agency partners, and Joint Worldwide Intelligence Communications System. These support services are critical for minimizing downtime, maximizing user productivity, and sustaining Service Level Agreement requirements.