Accession Number:

ADA559469

Title:

Connecting the Force from Space: The IRIS Joint Capability Technology Demonstration

Descriptive Note:

Journal article

Corporate Author:

ARMY SPACE AND MISSILE DEFENSE COMMAND/ARMY FORCES STRATEGIC COMMAND PETERSON AFB CO

Personal Author(s):

• Florio, Mike
• Hotop, David
• Groves, Stephen
• Davis, Kirk
• Farrll, Rich

Report Date:

2010-01-01

Pagination or Media Count:

5.0

Abstract:

The U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command Future Warfare Center Battle Labs quest to find quality technology for the soldier now focuses on innovative space communication capabilities that could close the digital divide. The Space and Missile Defense Battle Laboratory is assessing a commercial communications concept called IRIS for the Office of the Secretary of Defense. IRIS is an acronym for Internet Protocol Routing in Space. As the Operational Manager for the IRIS Joint Capability Technology Demonstration, U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Battle Lab is fast approaching the culminating demonstration that will provide an assessment of this new commercial capability for the Department of Defense. Joint Capability Technology Demonstration is an Office of the Secretary of Defense initiative to assess technologies for their usefulness to the warfighter. This initiative started almost three years ago when the Commander of the U.S. Strategic Command sought to quantify new concepts in connectivity and acquisition strategy. An industry consortium led by Cisco Systems and Intelsat General Offices proposed to General James Cartwright III, U.S. Marine Corps the U.S. Strategic Command Commander at the time to launch an internet router into geosynchronous orbit. The industry consortium explained that IRIS could provide cost effective connectivity to both commercial and military customers. The Office of the Secretary of Defense embraced the concept by authorizing a U.S. Strategic Command sponsored Joint Capability Technology Demonstration unlike any in the past. Rather than Department of Defense dictating requirements to industry, the consortium would design, develop and launch the capability at its own expense to meet their market forecast. Consequently, given a commercially viable capability, the Joint Capability Technology Demonstration would assess the potential of this capability for military utility.

Descriptors:

• *INTERNET
• *SPACE COMMUNICATIONS
• ACQUISITION
• ARMY
• BATTLES
• COMMERCE
• CONSORTIUMS
• COST EFFECTIVENESS
• DEFENSE SYSTEMS
• DEMONSTRATIONS
• DIGITAL SYSTEMS
• FORECASTING
• GUIDED MISSILES
• INDUSTRIES
• LABORATORIES
• LAUNCHING
• MARINE CORPS
• MARKETING
• QUALITY
• REPRINTS
• REQUIREMENTS
• STRATEGIC DEFENSE INITIATIVE
• STRATEGY
• WARFARE

Subject Categories:

• Computer Systems
• Astronautics

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE