Defensive Cyber Ops - Space

The 6th Sustainment Squadron is developing, prototyping, deploying, sustaining and operating Defensive Cyber Operations - Space (DCO-S) (Project 673070) for Guardians across Combat Power, Enterprise Management and Information Technology, Space Domain Awareness, Launch, Position Navigation and Timing, Satellite Communications, Weather, and Science & Technology and Test & Evaluation. As a result, the Service will deter, neutralize, defeat and/or destroy counterspace threats, improve readiness and operational reach of existing force structure, integrate Allies, partners, and commercial space to USSF units which will result in resilient Infrastructure, equipment, and personnel. The Defensive Cyberspace Operations Space (DCO-S) program delivers advanced defensive cyber capabilities to safeguard United States Space Force (USSF) mission systems, including their computer systems, software applications, spacecraft and sensitive operational data against unauthorized access, corruption, or destruction. The program develops and deploys defensive cyberspace capabilities, network security, damage assessment and recovery, cyber threat detection and mitigation, and active response strategies to address evolving threats and changes in the cyber environment. The program is transitioning Space Vehicle Defense from demonstration and development to deployment. These objectives are achieved through research, development, testing, and acquisition in areas such as proactive defense, defensive counter cyberspace, cyberspace intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), command and control situational awareness, persistent network operations, decision support, recovery, and digital forensics. In addition, this program element supports the integration, testing and sustainment of classified efforts to enable advanced USSF cyberspace warfare operations. The program is managed by the 6th Sustainment Squadron (6 STS) under Mission Delta 6. The FY 2027 request increases significantly to more than double planned DCO-S deployments, including the added responsibility for mission system integration efforts, fully funds the Space Vehicle Defense project to pivot from development to deployment, and integration, testing and sustainment of classified efforts to enable advanced USSF cyberspace warfare operations.