A practical application of an adap- tive integration technique could be found in the mission area of resilient communications to harness prolifer- ated commercial and nascent military constellations of lasercom-equipped satellites. These highly reliable sys- tems provide 10 to 20 times higher data rates but are not interoperable. The adaptive integration technique to leverage in this case would be in the market research stage. DIU, the Defense Advanced Re- search Projects Agency (DARPA), and the USSF should collaborate to understand the current state of com- mercial lasercom technology to gain interoperability between commercial and military satellites at the core of any future acquisition strategy. DIU and DARPA could provide market research to inform the USSF program offices’ AoA process. If the USSF de- termined that resilient communica- tions via interoperable space-based lasercom was a Service priority, DIU could use its market research to fund a prototype project to further inform future USSF acquisition strategies. The USSF could thereby integrate scale with its system program office serving as the transition partner for producing this capability. This intentional approach provides a roadmap for technology transition from OSD prototype investments that find transition and scalability within the Services. This also pro- vides the demand signal to com- mercial industry and private markets that the DoD has not only the intent but the practical roadmap to achieve meaningful contracts. Conclusion The rapid pace of commercial space innovation requires adding adaptive integration techniques to existing DoD budgetary and pro- grammatic processes to field the latest Warfighter tools and achieve the scale needed by the USSF and the Joint Force. By the time the DIU Space Portfolio develops a prototype deemed operationally effective, the
opportunity to fund scaling through the typical POM process is still years away. This delayed timeframe is disas- trous to space superiority and crip- pling to new commercial space com- panies and their investors. Removing this hurdle and meeting urgent chal- lenges will require that DIU and the USSF deepen their collaborative partnership to scout, integrate, and scale promising commercial technol- ogies into USSF programs of record. This can be done by using existing budgetary processes and adaptive integration techniques throughout a program’s life cycle to integrate in- novative commercial capabilities that sharpen USSF’s operational edge. VARGHESE is an active-duty officer in the United States Space Force and deputy direc- tor of the Space Portfolio at Defense Inno- vation Unit (DIU). He leads the planning and execution of innovative space capabilities in support of all U.S. Armed Services, Combat- ant Commands, and allied partners for the Office of the Secretary of Defense. Earlier, he served in various acquisition and operational roles at Tyndall AFB, Los Angeles AFB, the National Reconnaissance Office, Vanden- berg Space Force Base, and the Pentagon. Varghese earned his B.S. in Aerospace Engi- neering, Executive MBA from the University of Oklahoma, and M.A. in Management and Leadership from Webster University. He is a certified Program Management Professional through the Program Management Institute and holds a Level III certification in Acquisi- tion from DAU. The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone and not the Department of Defense. Reproduction or reposting of articles from Defense Acquisition magazine should credit the authors and the magazine.
The decision to upgrade space ca- pabilities is crucial in a program’s life cycle and has implications for space operations and operators. Block up- grades can enable game-changing commercial technologies as an entry point to test and scale viable capabili- ties that provide value to acquirers, operators, commercial industry, and the taxpayer. Practical Application For adaptive integration tech- niques to succeed, the USSF and DIU must leverage each organizations’ strengths and collaborate rather than working in stovepipes or isolation. To showcase current technologies, provide pro- gram overviews, and engage with commercial and defense mission partners, the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) participated in the annual Interservice/ Industry Training, Simulation, and Education Con- ference (I/ITSEC) in Orlando, Fla., Nov. 27–Dec. 1, 2023. DIU personnel engaged with pilot train- ing prototypes that leverage existing commercial capabilities through a program called Pilot Training Transformation (PTT). Source: DIU photo by Devon Bistarkey
DAU Resources
The DAUxDIU Immersive Commercial Acquisition Program (ICAP) will be accepting applications for fellows for the FY26 financial year in spring 2025. Visit www.diu.mil/icap to apply.
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