Command Profile: SIDC

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Space Innovation & Development Center (SIDC)

The men and women of the Space Innovation & Development Center (SIDC) at Schriever Air Force Base (AFB), Colo., are premier innovators, integrators and operational testers of air, space and cyberspace power to the warfighter. The SIDC is comprised of one Air Force level program in Air Force Tactical Exploitation of National Capabilities (AF TENCAP), one group, the 595th Space Group (595 SG), with six squadrons: the 595th Operations Support Squadron, the 17th Test Squadron (17 TS), the 14th Test Squadron, the 576th Flight Test Squadron (576 FLTS), the 25th Space Range Squadron, and the 3rd Space Experimentation Squadron. The SIDC’s two divisions are the Warfighting Integration Division (XI), and the Plans, Programs and Requirements Division (XR). These organizations work together to conduct wargaming; to integrate space into exercises and experiments; to rapidly prototype, field and exploit integrated air, space and cyberspace capabilities; to provide advanced space testing, training and range infrastructure; and to execute AFSPC Force Development Evaluation & Operational Test programs. The SIDC also has a detachment located at Nellis AFB, Nev. Detachment 1 is integrated into the U.S. Air Force Warfare Center and provides the cross-domain integration arm that addresses issues ranging from tactics development and training to integrated operational testing and range operations.

U.S. AIR FORCE WARFARE CENTER (USAFWC) INTEGRATION

In 2006, the chief of staff of the Air Force directed that there be one all-inclusive U.S. Air Force Warfare Center focusing on the three main areas of operational test and evaluation, tactics development and advanced training. In response to this direction, the SIDC has activated Detachment 1 at Nellis AFB, Nev. This detachment is composed of personnel, both officer and enlisted, in various career fields that are integrated directly into units across the Warfare Center. This effort will improve cross-domain tactics, techniques and procedures development, advanced combat employment training, and operational testing, strengthening the integration of space capabilities with air and cyber capabilities.

ADVANCED EDUCATION AND TRAINING

The Space Operations School, formerly part of the National Security Space Institute, has been realigned under the SIDC. This school presents advanced, operationally focused training courses in response to Air Force Space Command requirements. The school primarily prepares space professionals for operational deployments to Air and Space Operations Centers and provides space familiarization courses and advanced technical and tactical courses.

INTERCONTINENTAL BALLISTIC MISSILE (ICBM) FORCE DEVELOPMENT EVALUATION

The 576 FLTS, located at Vandenberg AFB, Calif., is responsible for conducting Joint Chiefs of Staff directed intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) Force Development Evaluation program. The 576 FLTS conducts three types of testing: operational test launch (OTL), simulated electronic launches (SEL) and software testing. In addition, there are many other special types of tests conducted on either a routine, urgent or emergency basis.

OTLs involve testing operational Minuteman III ICBMs. The missiles used for OTL missions are selected from the operational units at F. E. Warren AFB, Wyo., Malmstrom AFB, Mont., or Minot AFB, N.D. The missile units conduct the initial tests, remove the missiles from the silo and then ship them by vehicle to Vandenberg AFB. The 576 FLTS installs the test-unique equipment such as telemetry, GPS and flight safety systems. The unarmed ICBM is then launched to determine weapon system reliability and accuracy, thus demonstrating the capability of the ICBM force. F. E. Warren will provide a Minuteman III to support the next scheduled OTL this Fall.

SELs test selected ICBMs at the operationally deployed locations at either of the three missile wings. SEL missiles have specific test equipment installed to record test data. SEL tests allow the 576 FLTS to: a) assess capability of launch control center and airborne launch control systems to process required launch commands; b) assess capability of launch facility ground and guidance systems to process launch sequence; and c) assess the reliability of the ICBM weapon system. Software testing assesses the ICBM command, control and communication software prior to force-wide use and fielding. This test verifies and validates the effectiveness and suitability of the command, control and communication software.

All of these tests combined detect trends/ changes in weapon system performance and identify areas for weapon system improvement/ modification. The test results, when combined with other laboratory tests and simulations, provide USSTRATCOM planners the data needed to ensure the proper effects are delivered to the designated targets per presidential direction.

UPGRADED EARLY WARNING RADAR

The 17 TS will conduct an FDE on the Upgraded Early Warning Radar (UEWR) of the Ballistic Missile Early Warning System (BMEWS) Site III located at Royal Air Force (RAF) Fylingdales, United Kingdom, and the PAVE Phased Array Warning Site (PAWS) at Beale AFB, Calif. The UEWR is a component of the Integrated Tactical Warning and Attack Assessment (ITW/AA) system designed to warn national decision-makers and combatant commanders of a strategic attack against North America and European allies. Specifically, UEWR supports ITW/AA by detecting, tracking and reporting ballistic missiles and orbiting space objects. The UEWR supports missile defense by supplying information to intercept and destroy ballistic missiles launched at the United States. To support ITW/AA and missile defense, UEWR performs three missions: missile warning, missile defense and space surveillance. The UEWR at Fylingdales also has a fourth mission to support U.K.-specific space warning missions.

RAPID ATTACK, IDENTIFICATION, DETECTION AND REPORTING SYSTEM

The 17 TS will conduct an FDE on the Rapid Attack, Identification, Detection and Reporting System (RAIDRS) Block-10 (RB-10) located at Peterson AFB. RB-10 is the initial block of the RAIDRS program. RB-10 increases space situational awareness and supports the Defensive Space Control (DSC) capability for attack/event detection and characterization for SATCOM Electromagnetic Interference. Its primary mission is to provide event information provided by RB-10 allowing operators to identify possible attacks against transponded SATCOM signals enabling rapid DSC response. Its secondary mission is to provide Joint Task Force Global Network Operations real-time detection, characterization and rapid geolocation of EMI, allowing for a rapid reallocation of SATCOM Global Information Grid (GIG) resources as well as resolution of non-DSC EMI events. RB-10’s event detection, characterization and geolocation capabilities allow rapid restoral of service, warning to protect other space systems, and targeting support of active enemy offensive capabilities.

Ultimately RB-10 will deliver a global detection, reporting, characterization and geolocation of SATCOM EMI in the C-, X-, Ku- SATCOM frequency bands, and UHF geolocation on all monitored space systems. RB-10 will provide this capability directly to CDR JFCC SPACE through the Joint Space Operations Center (JSpOC) and USSTRATCOM. The effects specified in the concept of operations and the functional concept for space control operations can be produced in support of the joint warfighter. This FDE will serve to evaluate the capabilities for RB-10 and ensure HQ AFSPC/A3 has credible information to make a fielding decision for the warfighter.

INTEGRATED SPACE SITUATIONAL AWARENESS

Detachment 2 of the 17 TS is now preparing to conduct multiple tests of the Integrated Space Situational Awareness (ISSA) program to deliver new space situational awareness capabilities to the JSpOC. Detachment 2 also identified critical flaws in an Integrated Tactical warning and Attack Assessment upgrade during the 07V-2 Vertical Release operational test. The testers returned the system to the system program office to fix and re-test the system. This discovery prevented the loss of NORAD/NORTHCOM’s vital warning and homeland defense missions.

SCHRIEVER WARGAME SERIES

The Schriever Wargame Series is Air Force Space Command’s wargame examining space operations in-depth. It is the only wargame focusing solely on space protection across the space enterprise to include commercial, civil, intelligence, DoD and international space. It focuses on warfighter and combatant commander needs and provides opportunity to grow and leverage space professionals fluent in space issues. It also educates total force, allies, industry and government on current and future space issues. The series links with existing Title 10 games (Unified Engagement and the Futures game run by Air Staff) with a goal for cross domain integration. Space contributes to our nation’s security and economic future, and as such, the continuation of the Schriever Wargame’s examination in future scenarios identify vulnerabilities, potentially streamline command and control processes, and allied/industry/military interaction is vital.

TALON BUSHNELL

Talon Bushnell is a portable voice and data system that provides global, beyond line-of-sight (BLOS) communications for aircrews in flight. The system uses commercial off-the-shelf components, which can transmit in either secure or clear modes of operation. Bushnell units were designed specifically for use in a noisy cockpit environment and have a carry-on/carry-off capability that easily integrates with aircrew headsets. These units are currently used to provide command and control over search and rescue aircraft during space shuttle launches and to provide longrange communications for WC-130 aircraft during hurricane missions. Talon Bushnell units were also used during the recent California wildfires and are currently being tested for use on air defense fighter aircraft.

TALON CRUISER

Talon Cruiser is a customized Blue Force Tracking (BFT) device that provides real-time tracking of nuclear payload transporter vehicles during convoy operations. These units are capable of transmitting GPS position data and duress notifications via satellite. The Ccruiser devices improve situational awareness and enhance the ability of military leadership to provide positive control over nuclear devices as they travel to and from the ICBM sites. ♦