The U.S. Space Force’s Space Systems Command (SSC) has released a Request for Information (RFI) seeking commercial sources for environmental monitoring data to support global military operations.
The inquiry, managed by System Delta 810 (the service’s dedicated weather and domain awareness unit), focuses on identifying industry capabilities for providing high-revisit cloud characterization and theater weather (CCTW) data.
Context: Transitioning from Legacy Systems
The RFI is part of a broader Department of Defense (DoD) strategy to transition away from large, monolithic legacy satellites like the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP). In its place, the Space Force is developing a disaggregated architecture that combines government-owned assets, such as the Weather System Follow-on-Microwave (WSF-M), with commercial “Data-as-a-Service” contracts.
Technical Requirements and Data Specs
SSC is specifically interested in commercial platforms that can deliver environmental data directly into military decision-support systems. The RFI outlines interest in the following technical areas:
- Compact Imagers: High-resolution optical and infrared sensors capable of measuring cloud top temperatures and water vapor.
- Space Weather Sensors: Instruments to monitor solar activity and ionospheric disturbances that impact satellite communications and GPS accuracy.
- Modular Spacecraft Platforms: SmallSat or CubeSat buses that can be rapidly deployed to replenish or augment the existing constellation.
- AI/ML Processing: Software solutions for automated data tagging and predictive modeling to provide real-time “theater weather” to ground commanders.
Strategic Rationale
By leveraging commercial environmental data, the Space Force aims to increase the resiliency of its weather monitoring capabilities. Commercial constellations often provide higher revisit rates than government-only fleets, which is critical for tracking rapidly evolving storm systems or ionospheric “scintillation” that can disrupt tactical radio links.
Timeline to February 2026
Interested vendors are required to submit their capability statements and technical roadmaps by February 13, 2026. SSC officials intend to use the responses to shape future procurement strategies for the 2027 fiscal year, potentially leading to pilot contracts for weather data integration.
