Sunday, November 8, 2026
TGOs

The business of defense

Get the Weekly
Topics
Menu
Search

Contracts · Space

Air & Space Forces Magazine: Space Force targets launch-ready cislunar kit by 2029

Air & Space Forces Magazine reports planned requests for commercial technology and spacecraft autonomy, alongside a $30 million challenge for less mature technology.

The Space Force plans to release two requests for information soon, Air & Space Forces Magazine reported. The first will seek existing commercial technology that can be ready to launch by 2029. Maj. Gen. Stephen Purdy, the service’s portfolio acquisition executive for advanced programs, outlined the plans.1

The Space Force is asking industry to rapidly invest and develop satellites and software that could be ready for operations as soon as 2029

two requests for information it plans to release imminently

The firstexisting commercial technologyplanned

can be ready to launch by 2029

The second requestAI and autonomous processing capabilities for spacecraft operating in cislunar spaceplanned

it plans to release imminently

Reported by Air & Space Forces Magazine, Oct. 26, 2026

Sources
TGOs tgos.io

Breaking Defense reported that Purdy said the service does not want to spend heavily on research and development for new cislunar capabilities.2

Air & Space Forces Magazine reported that the first request favors commercial or near-commercial, non-developmental solutions. Purdy described hardware backed by relevant evidence, software without heavy additional work and ground systems.1

The second request seeks artificial intelligence and autonomous processing capabilities for spacecraft operating in cislunar space. The goal, Purdy said, is a fully autonomous system capable of managing its hardware faults, processing and sensor activities.1

For earlier-stage technology and research, the Space Force plans a separate industry challenge called Lunar Prime with the Air Force Research Laboratory and SpaceWERX. The effort has $30 million in funding and targets flight demonstrations within two years of contract award.1

The funding distinction matters for suppliers: Air & Space Forces Magazine reports $30 million for Lunar Prime but no funding amount for the commercial technology sought through the requests for information. The service’s Cislunar Coordination Office has also drafted a list of high-priority requirements that remain unfunded.1

Sources (2)
  1. Space Force Wants Cislunar Kit Ready to Launch by 2029, Air & Space Forces Magazine www.airandspaceforces.com
  2. Space Force shifts into high gear on cislunar warfare, with RFIs coming soon, Breaking Defense breakingdefense.com
Story permalink ↗
Keep readingBack to top ↑

Next story

Contracts · Cyber infrastructure

DISA seeks cloud identity and access prototype for Department of War

Responses are due Nov. 30 for a commercial identity-management prototype. It would operate across IL5 and IL6 environments.

The Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) is seeking a commercial, cloud-hosted identity and access management prototype to modernize the Department of War’s legacy identity infrastructure.1

DISA seeks solutions to prototype a Next Generation E-ICAM capability

Enterprise Identity, Credential, and Access Management (E-ICAM)

modernize legacy identity infrastructuremodular, cloud-hostedplanned

This effort will modernize legacy identity infrastructure with a modular, cloud-hosted commercial off-the-shelf/software-as-a-service solution operating across IL5 and IL6 environments.

The prototype must address the Federated Identity Provider, Automated Account Provisioning, Master Entitlement Record, and Federation Hub core capabilities.

Response deadline is Nov. 30, 2026, 5:00 p.m. America/Chicago (Monday)

Source: SAM.gov. As of Nov. 7, 2026.

Sources
TGOs tgos.io

DISA is seeking the capability through a prototype Other Transaction opportunity linked to its competitive Commercial Solutions Opening.1–3

The Next Generation Enterprise Identity, Credential, and Access Management (E-ICAM) effort calls for a modular commercial off-the-shelf or software-as-a-service solution. The solution would operate across Impact Level 5 (IL5) and Impact Level 6 (IL6) environments. The prototype must address four core capabilities: Federated Identity Provider, Automated Account Provisioning, Master Entitlement Record and Federation Hub.1

Responses to the Area of Interest are due Nov. 30 at 5 p.m. Central.1

DISA’s Commercial Solutions Opening and any Other Transactions awarded through it are not subject to the Federal Acquisition Regulation or its supplements.3

Sources (3)
  1. SAM.gov notice record sam.gov
  2. SAM.gov notice history sam.gov
  3. SAM.gov: DISA Commercial Solutions Opening (HC108425S0001) sam.gov
Story permalink ↗

Next story

Contracts · Space

Viasat wins contract for Space Data Network’s mission operations hub

The award includes a $115 million initial task order to design, field and scale the center, under a contract with a $450 million ceiling.

Space Systems Command (SSC) awarded Viasat a competitive indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for the Space Data Network Backbone’s Mission Operations Center, the command announced Nov. 5, 2026. The contract carries a $450 million maximum ceiling and a $115 million initial task order to design, field and scale the center.1

Viasat, Inc. will serve as the network and mission system integration partner

Mission Operations Center (MOC) for the Space Data Network Backbone

maximum ceiling$450 millionactual

contract to Viasat, Inc., with a maximum ceiling of $450 million

initial task order$115 millionactual

to design, field, and scale the MOC

Source: Space Systems Command, Nov. 5, 2026

Sources
TGOs tgos.io

Viasat will serve as the network and mission system integration partner as SSC expands its open-architecture ecosystem across multiple space-segment providers. SSC plans to bring mission integration, network operations and data transport management together through the center.1

The effort builds on the multi-vendor acquisition strategy demonstrated in the Space-Based Sensing and Targeting portfolio’s earlier Delivery Order 2 and Delivery Order 3 work. That work involved Amazon LEO for Government, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Rocket Lab and York Space Systems.1

Breaking Defense reported that the center will serve as the network orchestration hub for the backbone, a low Earth orbit constellation being built by SpaceX. The network’s near-term focus will be supporting the Golden Dome missile defense initiative, the outlet reported.2

DefenseScoop reported that earlier this year the Department of War awarded SpaceX a $2.3 billion contract to deliver a fully operational backbone prototype by the end of 2027.3

The center is intended to integrate mission systems across multiple constellations and providers.1 Breaking Defense described network orchestration as autonomously shifting data among satellite constellations and ground stations when congestion or jamming slows transmission.2

Sources (3)
  1. SSC release, Nov. 5, 2026 www.ssc.spaceforce.mil
  2. Breaking Defense breakingdefense.com
  3. DefenseScoop defensescoop.com
Story permalink ↗

More from TGOs