Space Situation Awareness Systems

SSC/SYD 85/BAS is developing the Deep Space Advanced Radar Capability (DARC) (Project 656565) for Guardians across the USSF Space Domain Awareness (SDA) mission, Combined Forces Command, Mission Delta 2, and 20th Space Surveillance Squadron. As a result, the Service will (Pick at least one FY27 Effects, one enduring effect and add optional as needed). Space Domain Awareness (SDA) is one of five core competencies of the Space Force and is the effective identification, characterization, and understanding of any factor, passive or active, associated with the space domain that could affect space operations and thereby impact the security, safety, economy, or environment of our nation. As the foundation for space control, SDA encompasses surveillance of all space objects and activities; detailed surveillance of specific space assets; monitoring space environmental conditions; monitoring cooperative space assets; gathering indications and warnings on adversary space operations; and conducting integrated command, control, communications, processing, analysis, dissemination, and archiving activities. This program element develops, tests, upgrades and fields new SDA capabilities across the space surveillance network (SSN) while companion program element 1203940SF develops, fields, and operationalizes sensor networks and information integration capabilities. Activities funded in this program element (1206425SF) also support efforts such as engineering studies and analyses, architectural engineering studies, trade studies, technology needs forecasting, modernization initiatives, systems engineering, system development, and test & evaluation. Activities may include prototyping and technology demonstration(s). This program falls within the SDA mission area which provides a ground-based radar system that detects, tracks, and maintains custody of deep space objects 24/7 in all weather and through the solar exclusion gap. DARC will augment the Space Surveillance Network as an additional sensor with increased capacity and capability for deep space object custody, providing full global coverage. The FY 2026 spend plan amount includes $0 thousand of discretionary and $281,861 thousands of mandatory (reconciliation) for a total of $281,861 thousands. The mandatory funds continue construction and integration of Site 1, and development of Sites 2 & 3.

Space Systems Command/Space Delta 89/Space Surveillance and Reconnaissance Branch (SSC/SYD89/SYZ) is developing, prototyping, demonstrating, and executing the next generation Surveillance Geosynchronous Earth Orbit (GEO) program (SG-XX) to replace SILENTBARKER capabilities. This SDA effort satisfies one of five core competencies of the Space Force and is the effective identification, characterization, and understanding of any factor, passive or active, associated with the space domain that could affect space operations and thereby impact the security, safety, economy, or environment of our nation. As the foundation for space control, SDA encompasses surveillance of all space objects and activities: detailed surveillance of specific space assets; monitoring space environmental conditions; monitoring cooperative space assets; gathering indications and warning on adversary space operations; and conducting integrated command, control, communications, processing, analysis, dissemination, and archiving activities. These programs fall within the Space Domain Awareness (SDA) mission area which provides the space-based architecture required to detect, track, catalogue, and identify objects and activities in the space domain. This program element expands surveillance SDA capabilities, deploying a constellation of new proliferated SVs, which plans to integrate with existing, but evolving Space Control operations. Activities funded in this program element (1206425SF) also support efforts such as engineering studies and analyses, architectural engineering studies, trade studies, technology maturation, modernization initiatives, systems engineering, system development, risk mitigation, test & evaluation, and may include prototyping and technology demonstrations, such as the YSG-XX prototype program which directly applies commercial practices and risk reduction activities for SG-XX. SG-XX provides SDA capabilities and capacity to detect, track, and characterize threats to high value U.S. and allied satellites and is the USSF led follow-on to the SILENTBARKER program. SG-XX will use a flexible acquisition construct enabling concurrent and rapid onboarding of multiple new SV vendors, incorporate allied nation partnerships, and leverage commercial capabilities and services. SG-XX requirements for Space Based SDA are aligned with capabilities documented in the U.S.

Space Domain Awareness (SDA) is one of five core competencies of the Space Force and is the effective identification, characterization, and understanding of any factor, passive or active, associated with the space domain that could affect space operations and thereby impact the security, safety, economy, or environment of our nation. As the foundation for space control, SDA encompasses surveillance of all space objects and activities; detailed surveillance of specific space assets; monitoring space environmental conditions; monitoring cooperative space assets; gathering indications and warning on adversary space operations; and conducting integrated command, control, communications, processing, analysis, dissemination, and archiving activities. This program element expands reconnaissance and surveillance SDA capabilities, deploying a constellation of new proliferated space vehicles (SVs), which will integrate with existing, but evolving Space Control operations. Activities funded in this program element (1206425SF) also support efforts such as engineering studies and analyses, architectural engineering studies, trade studies, technology needs forecasting, modernization initiatives, systems engineering, system development, risk mitigation, and test & evaluation, and may include prototyping and technology demonstration. RG-XX will increase SDA capabilities and capacity to detect, track, and characterize threats to high value U.S. and allied satellites. SVs will use dynamic Rendezvous and Proximity Operations (RPO) capabilities and may include refueling capability. RG-XX will use a flexible acquisition construct enabling concurrent and rapid onboarding of multiple new SV vendors, incorporate allied nation partnerships, and leverage commercial capabilities and services. RG-XX requirements are based on a Rapid Prototyping Requirements Document (RPRD) and a classified Capability Description Document (CDD). RG-XX will provide critical Fire Control capability such as search, detect, and track objects from space-based sensors for timely custody and event detection. Reconnaissance and Surveillance from space augments and overcomes existing ground sensor limitations with timely 24-hour above-the-weather collection of satellite metric data only possible with space-based sensors.

Space Domain Awareness (SDA) is one of five core competencies of the Space Force and is the effective identification, characterization, and understanding of any factor, passive or active, associated with the space domain that could affect space operations and thereby impact the security, safety, economy, or environment of our nation. As the foundation for space control, SDA encompasses surveillance of all space objects and activities; detailed surveillance of specific space assets; monitoring space environmental conditions; monitoring cooperative space assets; gathering indications and warning on adversary space operations; and conducting integrated command, control, communications, processing, analysis, dissemination, and archiving activities. This programs falls within the Space Domain Awareness (SDA) mission area which provides the space-based architecture required to detect, track, catalogue, and identify objects and activities in the space domain. As the foundation for space control, SDA encompasses surveillance of all space objects and activities; detailed surveillance of specific space assets; monitoring space environmental conditions; monitoring cooperative space assets; gathering indications and warning on adversary space operations; and conducting integrated command, control, communications, processing, analysis, dissemination, and archiving activities. Program interdependencies include: SC&C Software Pilot Program (1208248SF); Space Defense Interface Network (1203904SF); Space Situational Awareness Operations (1203940SF); Space Situational Awareness Systems (1206425SF)”Space Based SDA will develop and deliver capabilities and prototypes to provide space object surveillance and reconnaissance from space. The United States Space Force (USSF) and National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) have partnered on the Space Based SDA program to meet overlapping requirements through the SILENTBARKER program. The program is also developing prototypes to deliver additional space surveillance capabilities to meet emerging threats. Space Based SDA enables timely detection and custody of on-orbit threats to protect U.S. High Value Assets in support of the National Defense Strategy. Space Based SDA requirements are based on both the Statement of Capabilities and the current 2022 SDA Initial Capabilities Document, which is focused on protecting High Value Assets.

This Program Element develops, tests, upgrades and fields SDA capabilities across the Space Surveillance Network (SSN) while companion Program Element 1203940SF develops, fields, and operationalizes ground sensor networks and information integration capabilities. Activities funded in this Program Element (1206425SF) also support efforts such as engineering studies and analyses to include prototyping and technology demonstration(s), architectural engineering studies, trade studies, technology needs forecasting, modernization initiatives, systems engineering, system development, and test and evaluation. Ground Based Optical Sensor System (GBOSS) includes an upgrade to the Ground-based Electro-Optical Deep Space Surveillance (GEODSS) system that enables GEODSS to monitor small, closely-spaced, and advanced threats in low, mid, high, and geostationary orbits. The upgraded system will discover currently undetectable space threats, reduce an adversary's tactical surprise and deliver the data required to support accurate, timely, actionable Space Domain Awareness (SDA). This facilitates decision-making within the compressed timelines dictated by the realities of the congested, contested, competitive space domain. This enhanced SDA capability directly supports the Find, Fix, Track, Target, Engage, and Assess (F2T2EA) stages of the GEO Kill Chain, enabling more effective space control operations. GBOSS also investigates and may field the use of passive RF, infrared, or other capabilities to augment its current optical data, providing a more comprehensive understanding of the space domain. The program delivers a combination of performance upgrades to existing GEODSS sites, including advanced data exploitation and rapid data dissemination. The program will seek Allied partnerships to incorporate coalition data, purchase commercial data to increase capacity, and/or investigate and field new sites to provide a global capability to positively identify an adversary committing an orbital attack. This collaborative approach with allies leverages shared optical capabilities for enhanced space domain awareness and collective defense.