The Space Innovation & Development Center (SIDC), formerly the Space Warfare Center (SWC), is a military unit of the United States Air Force. It is directly under Air Force Space Command (AFSPC) and resides at Schriever Air Force Base, Colorado. The SIDC includes the AF Space Battlelab (SB)^*, Shield, and the 17th Test Squadron (17 TS).

Mission

The mission of the Space Warfare Center (SWC) is to advance Air Force, joint and combined space warfare through innovation, testing, tactics development and training.

Background

In the fall of 1992, an Air Force Blue Ribbon Panel on space recommended establishing a dedicated Space Warfare Center to examine the capabilities of space-based assets versus the actual enhancements gained from them. During Desert Storm, combat operations relied on space support more than in any past conflict. However, an analysis of these operations revealed several shortfalls in the Air Force’s ability to take advantage of capabilities space has to offer.

General Charles Horner, Commander, Air Force Space Command (AFSPC) officially dedicated the SWC on December 8, 1993. In 1995, the 17th Test Squadron (17 TS) was established and the 576th Flight Test Squadron (576 FLTS) aligned under SWC. In 2000, the SWC established the 595th Test and Evaluation Group (595 TEG) and 310th Space Group (Air Force Reserve) established the 14th Test Squadron (14 TS) as a sister squadron to the 17 TS. In 2001, the SWC stood up the 527th Space Aggressor Squadron (527 SAS) and the USAF Space Operations School (SOPSC). In 2002, the SWC stood up Detachment 1 at Nellis AFB, NV and Detachment 2 at Langley AFB, VA. Both Detachments are extensions of the SWC and provide air and space integration to the warfighter through a variety of efforts heavily focused on strengthening relationships with government and industry mission partners. In August 2002, the 595th reorganized as the 595th Space Group and took control of the 527th and SOPSC. In November 2002, the 595th established the Space Range Management Office (SRMO). In September 2003, the SWC stood up a fifth division, the Integration Division (SWC/XI). More recently, in October 2003, the 310th Space Group established the 26th Space Aggressor Squadron (26 SAS) as a sister squadron to the 527 SAS.

Organization

SWC's two-fold mission to support warfighters with space solutions and develop concepts for space superiority is carried out by the following five organizations:

AF Tactical Exploitation of National Capabilities (AF TENCAP) (TC)

In 1977 Congress directed the establishment of Air Force TENCAP with three primary missions: exploiting space systems for tactical applications through rapid prototyping projects; influencing the design of future space systems for tactical applications; and educating warfighters about the capabilities and tactical utility of space systems. The SWC serves as the executive agent of AF TENCAP on behalf of warfighters and is teamed with the Space Applications Project Office to develop and provide support to Air Force agencies and the Combat and Mobility Air Forces. AF TENCAP demonstrates leading edge space technologies with potential to enhance combat capabilities of units in the field and transitions these combat systems to warfighters in a timelier manner than through traditional acquisition processes. AF TENCAP is responsible for keeping abreast of the latest technologies and influencing emerging space systems to make them more supportive of fielded combat forces.

Air Force Space Battlelab (SB)

The mission of the Space Battlelab is to transform space capabilities into solutions for today’s warfighting problems. Through networking with industry, academia, and service laboratories, SB leverages leading edge space technology to enhance Air Force core competencies.

Two flights perform the operations. The Concepts Development Flight ensures the Space Battlelab is focused on the most pressing operational problems and determines the best available solutions. They produce a detailed campaign plan as a guide for the second flight, the Demonstration Flight, to rapidly show the effectiveness of a proposed solution in an operational environment. Drawing on test experts such as Air Force Operational Test & Evaluation Center (AFOTEC) and the 595th Space Group, Battlelab project managers use modeling and simulation, wargaming, exercise evaluations and prototype demonstrations to quickly measure military value of promising concepts. The overall effectiveness of a technology is captured in a final report that provides detailed analysis of demonstration results and recommendations for concept transition.

SB processes are optimized to evaluate concepts and promising ideas from military personnel, industry, and citizens.

Integration Division (XI)

The Integration Division is directly involved in integrating space systems into air and information warfare. The Space Applications & Integration Facility (SPAIF) works to improve command and control processes and operates a facility that emulates functions of a CAOC. This facility is designed to demonstrate space systems and train people on their use. The Aerospace Fusion Section’s mission is to provide real time data fusion systems for targeting, intelligence, weapons of mass destruction (WMD) warning and enhanced missile defense operations.

Also, XI’s Wargaming Branch promotes the understanding and effective use of space power through modeling, simulation and analysis. A principal focus of the directorate is the planning, execution, and analyzes of the Schriever Wargames. Schriever Wargames are a series of space-focused wargames designed to evaluate space’s contribution to a theater war. They are currently working the next iteration wargame, Schriever III, scheduled to execute in 2005.

Plans, Programs and Requirements (XR)

Plans, Programs and Requirements is the backbone of the SWC, providing overarching support to all other SWC divisions in the following areas: communications and computers, security, acquisition, logistics, policy, planning, programming, financial support, manpower and personnel. XR is the SWC Commander’s authority on reviewing, coordinating and consolidating all SWC inputs to AFSPC/XP’s Modernization Planning Process (MPP) and AFSPC/DR’s associated Requirements Generation System (RGS). As the lead SWC programming and requirements agency, XR integrates SWC views and initiatives into these AFSPCE-level programming systems to solve warfighters’ deficiencies through space capabilities. As SWC’s executive agent for the submitting Program Objective Memorandum inputs, XR develops strategy, policy, doctrine and long-range plans to control and exploit space, and programs and advocates manpower, resources, and organizational development for long-term success of SWC’s mission.

595th Space Group

The mission of the 595th Space Group is to enhance, and provide confidence in, Air Force warfighting capabilities through advanced training, education, tactics development and operational testing. 595 SG is composed of the 17th Test Squadron (17 TS), 14th Test Squadron (14 TS) a Reserve component, the 576th Flight Test Squadron (576 FLTS), the 527th Space Aggressor Squadron, the 26th Space Aggressor Squadron (26 SAS) a Reserve component, the Space Range Management Office (SRMO) and the Space Operations School (SOPSC).

The mission of 17 TS is to validate and enhance warfighter capabilities through testing and evaluation of space systems. 17 TS is responsible for planning, executing and reporting on all Force Development Evaluation, tactics and concepts testing, and command-directed testing of AFSPC's space assets. 17 TS is chartered to determine the effectiveness and suitability of AFSPC’s operational space systems.

The mission of 14 TS is to test, evaluate and exploit aerospace systems to educate and train US and Allied warfighters on combat support capabilities, tactics and vulnerabilities. 14 TS is a USAF Reserve squadron that augments 17 TS. This includes tests for all four space mission areas: space control, space forces support, force enhancement and force application.

The mission of 576 FLTS is to execute the Joint Chiefs of Staff-directed intercontinental ballistic missile Force Development Evaluation test program and execute Air Force Space Command's operational tests for the Department of Defense. 576 FLTS plans and performs ground, flight and space system tests in operationally representative environments and collects, analyzes and reports performance accuracy, anomaly assessment, reliability, aging and surveillance data to the Joint Staff, Air Staff, U. S. Strategic Command and other higher headquarters. In executing assigned test activities, 576 FLTS conducts launch operations at the Western Range, conducts field tests at operational units, refines maintenance procedures and interfaces with AFOTEC, System Program Offices and other higher headquarters personnel.

527 SAS is modeled on the concepts and methodology of “dissimilar air combat” training created by the USAF air aggressor program (i.e.- 527 SAS replicates adversary capabilities to improve combat training). The squadron’s goal is to increase awareness of threats from space and to improve our ability to defend against them.

Additionally, the 26 SAS is specifically chartered to augment the 527th Space Aggressor Squadron in replicating adversary space capabilities to support Air Expeditionary Force spin-up, world-wide exercises, training and testing to enhance US space superiority, force readiness and survivability.

The mission of the SRMO is to ensure test & training for air, space, and information operations capabilities are integrated into ranges and air and space operation centers and provide infrastructure and expertise to test and train space systems and personnel.

SOPSC is Air Force Space Command’ s center for advanced space education and training. SOPSC leads the Air Force in developing space training courses which provide a wide range of space curricula. In addition, SOPSC is the focal point for tactics, techniques and procedures development within AFSPC. They have published the Air Force Tactics, Techniques and Procedures (AFTTP) 3-1, Vol 28 Tactical Employment, Space -- the first comprehensive volume on space for warfighters.

Finally, the Group also maintains an Intelligence Branch, which is the focal point for intelligence support to all SWC organizations. The branch serves as the primary provider of imagery tasking, processing, exploitation and dissemination services and also provides operational general military intelligence all-source analysis for SWC organizations.

Detachments

The SWC also operates two detachments. SWC Detachment 1 at Nellis AFB NV, is collocated with Red Flag operations conducted by the 414th Combat Training Squadron. Det 1 looks at how best to integrate space into the full-spectrum aerospace range envisioned by Air Combat Command. Detachment 2 at Langley AFB VA, teams with the Aerospace Command & Control Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance Center (AC2ISRC) and with the Combined Air Operations Center-Experimental, or CAOC-X. Det 2 helps ensure emerging CAOC capabilities mesh well with and fit the needs of all CAOC users -- while especially considering space capabilities. Recently, Det 2 was also named as AFSPC’s liaison to Joint Forces Command.

(Current as of Feb 2004)

External links

• http://www.schriever.af.mil/SIDC/
• http://www.peterson.af.mil/hqafspc/Library/FactSheets/FactsSheets.asp?FactChoice=18

United States Air Force units