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U.S. Space Systems Command Awards First CSO Prototype Contract

The Space Force hopes to modernize its intelligence capabilities at speed with the newly streamlined award process.

Space Systems Command has awarded its first CSO prototype contract to two companies to improve its space intelligence capabilities. Credit: Arslan-stock.adobe.com generated with AI

The U.S. Space Force’s Space Systems Command (SSC) announced Wednesday that it has awarded $499,828 to MapLarge, a provider of operational artificial intelligence applications, and $1.43 million to Leidos as part of its first commercial solutions opening (CSO) prototype contract under the Kronos program, which is a Space Force program structured to consolidate legacy systems into an integrated family of systems for operational command and control, battle management and space intelligence.

According to an SSC press release, the contract aims to support the development of an integrated prototype that will enhance battlespace characterization, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance operations, and multisource data fusion for the Kronos enterprise by strengthening how intelligence is processed, exploited and integrated into operational workflows.

Specifically, the prototype will deliver a minimum viable capability that supports target development, understands adversary actions and features a mission-management tool that unifies intelligence planning, live operations and post-mission analysis within the Kronos architecture, the release states.

"In a contested space domain, the ability to integrate intelligence at the speed of operations is critical because decision dominance is a prerequisite for space superiority,” said Col. Jason West, USSF, commander of SSC System Delta 85 (SYD 85).

The Kronos program is executed under the U.S. Department of War’s software acquisition pathway, which is meant to speed up the delivery of capabilities, enabling deployment within six months.

According to the release, CSOs, like the one awarded to MapLarge and Leidos, require short solution briefs or pitches from interested companies and can lead directly to a follow-on production contract without further competition to speed up the prototype delivery process.

“CSOs are designed for speed: they reduce paperwork and time, and, once awarded, they offer a significant level of vendor flexibility,” said Lt. Col. Collin Greiser, USSF, SYD 85 system program manager for Advanced Space Battle Management.