FA9453-21-S-0001-Call016 - Space Strategic Technology Institute (SSTI) - Space Cyber-Cognitive Overmatch (SCCO)
Funds disruptive space cyber and cognitive overmatch technology development for DoD transition, with strict SWaP and mission-viability constraints, for eligible offerors under this Air Force solicitation.
⚑ Federal contract solicitation; applicant restrictions apply as stated by the notice. · Focus is on transition-ready disruptive technology, not basic research. · Must address SWaP constraints and preserve current mission viability.
This is a space cyber/cognitive overmatch and applied computing/defense technology solicitation, which is far outside this team’s core social-science work on risk perception, warning communication, climate/energy/public trust, and policy evaluation. Even the national-security-adjacent members would only be peripherally relevant, so this would not plausibly be pursued by the team as PI-level research.
JUDGED AGAINST THE ROSTER'S PUBLICATION DOSSIER · GPT-5.4-MINI · 2026-07-07
Unit fits — one characterization, each unit's own rules
| Physical Sciences & Engineering (demo) | 90 strong | technical depth: central; funds applied research |
| IPPRA | 58 good | portfolio topics: cybersecurity, national_security_defense; social/behavioral work is minor; funds applied research |
| Tom Love Innovation Hub | 45 partial | funds applied research; prototyping/demonstration stage; deep-tech content |
Description
The ultimate objective of this initiative is to create disruptive, cutting-edge technologies that fundamentally alter the strategic landscape of space operations. While proposed solutions must improve overall system resilience and strictly optimize size, weight, and power (SWaP) constraints, their true value will be judged by their capacity to enable entirely new operational concepts. The goal is not seeking merely incremental upgrades; it is for transformative capabilities spanning the cyber and electromagnetic (EM) spectrums, the entire distributed architecture (space, ground, and links), and advanced human-machine teaming. Crucially, this disruption cannot come at the cost of current mission viability. For example, a novel cyber defense mechanism will be deemed unviable if its computational overhead degrades primary satellite operations. Consequently, proposals will be rigorously evaluated on two interconnected fronts: their potential to achieve true cognitive and cyber overmatch, and their realistic maturity for transitioning out of the laboratory and into government program offices or industry applications.
Eligibility
Applicant restrictions (federal contract). Set-aside: . Notice type: Solicitation. Organization: DEPT OF DEFENSE / DEPT OF THE AIR FORCE / FA9453 AFRL RVK.
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