Figure 1. Implementing a Vision of Space Acquisition as a Warfighting Capability
Source: Authors. Note. CONOPS = Concept of Operations
industry. To be effective partners in this relationship, it is important that the USSF take steps to develop a workforce that is risk-tolerant, flex- ible, collaborative, and enterprise- focused. This workforce must include ex- perts aware of space-related tech- nology developments and capabili- ties in commercial industry and be positioned to make risk-informed decisions about whether and how commercial capabilities align with the overarching space architecture. In a 2023 report, Leveraging Commer- cial Space Services: Opportunities and Risks for the Department of the Air Force , RAND researchers outlined a framework for driving such risk-informed decisions. Rapid Acquisition and Mission Assurance The vision of space acquisition as a warfighting capability embod- ies a systematic, comprehensive, and holistic approach. But to out- pace increasingly effective adversary counterspace capabilities, the USSF also must pursue rapid acquisition of warfighting capabilities. A key ques-
tion is whether accelerated acquisi- tion introduces any critical new risks to mission assurance. Building on prior work, the team took a deep look at the USSF rapid acquisition approaches in 2022 and developed recommendations for anticipating and mitigating mission assurance risk. Drawing from dis- cussions with more than 40 subject- matter experts, the team created a framework to identify the relative risks posed by various events and potential mitigation strategies. The team’s findings were documented in a 2022 report, Ensuring Mission Assurance While Conducting Rapid Space Acquisition . Key differences exist between tra- ditional and streamlined acquisition as they relate to mission assurance risk. The critical difference, from a mission assurance standpoint, lies in the contrasting priorities. Traditional satellite programs tend to be large and expensive, highly complex, and designed to have long lifetimes, fac- tors that drive low risk tolerance. The traditional mission assurance focus on performance objectives ensures that the technical and engineering aspects
of the system meet the performance requirements with high confidence that they will maximize mission ca- pability and reliability. However, traditional mission as- surance objectives are inadequate in a contested space environment. Assuring mission success in a space warfighting domain means that the relevant capability must be available ahead of threats and work in and through contested space environ- ments. The trade space for ensuring mission assurance for a rapid acquisi- tion program must balance schedule, security, resilience, reliance, and mis- sion capability against an acceptable risk for each dimension throughout the program life cycle. As a result, mission assurance approaches for rapid programs must be tailored, program-specific, and iterative rather than fixed.
A Framework for Balancing Risks
The team proposed a five-step risk management framework to help bal- ance competing mission assurance objectives and facilitate communica-
38 | DEFENSE ACQUISITION | March-April 2025
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