US SPACECOM to Launch New Data Integration Program for Military Operations

The U.S. Space Command is preparing to establish a new program aimed at enhancing its capability to integrate data from various sources into a unified platform for military personnel.

“We have a fair amount of data that washes around in our system. Today, unfortunately, I don’t have a single common operational picture that I can point to to bring us all that in a coherent manner. Can we operate without having that single common operational picture? Absolutely, but we want to do better,” SPACECOM Commander Gen. Stephen Whiting while speaking at a webinar, DefenceScoop reported.

Currently, Space Command utilizes multiple systems across its mission spectrum, each generating substantial volumes of data crucial for space operations.

SPACECOM is also expecting its data volume to increase. According to Whiting, Spacecom is in the initial phases of creating a pilot program to evaluate data integration capabilities specifically tailored for the space sector. 

To enable this, SPACECOM is working in collaboration on this initiative with the Joint Staff’s Office of Command, Control, Communications and Computers/Cyber, J6.

Whiting further revealed that SPACECOM is currently finalizing the timeline and budget planning for the initiative. 

He anticipates that within the next few weeks or months, SPACECOM will reveal the particular mission area chosen to serve as a test case for the pilot program.

Earlier this year, the U.S. Space Force released its Strategic Action Plan for Data and Artificial Intelligence for Fiscal Year 2024, outlining precise directives for the organization to achieve data-centric capabilities necessary for conducting operations in contested environments.

The Space Force plan mandates embracing modern, adaptive data capabilities for swift intelligence utilization.

Priorities include robust governance, fostering a data-centric culture, optimizing data and AI tech, and fortifying partnerships across government, academia, industry, and internationally to ensure data visibility, accessibility, security, and interoperability.