Air Force’s Network of the Future: Fast, Commercial, and Virtual

When Airmen and Guardians need data or connectivity, they don’t much care whether it comes via wires, fiber optic cable or a satellite—and the Department of the Air Force wants its networks to match. 

A new “Network of the Future” strategy released Sept. 3 by the department’s Chief Information Officer and Chief Technology Officer says IT networks must be adaptive and secure, “ensuring that real-time data, secure communications, and adaptive responses are available wherever and whenever the mission demands.” 

Software-Defined Wide Area Networks, or SD-WANs are the underlying enabling technology for the new strategy. Conventional network technology uses switching hardware to route messaging through fiber optic cables, 5G towers, or satellites uplinks and downlinks. Software-defined networks use virtual switching to route traffic and adapt, on the fly, when network nodes fail. If a cyberattack or power failure cuts off one route, the system automatically reconfigures to send data via another. 

“SD-WAN is designed to be easily scalable and can integrate across multiple connection types with end-to-end encryption and unified security policies across all locations to simplify security management,” the strategy states. 

The Air Force strategy envisions a “unified control pane” allowing IT professionals to monitor and manage the entire network without having to toggle between systems. 

The Space Force already has an SD-WAN program called meshONE-Terrestrial. Launched in 2021, it contributes to the Pentagon’s wider Joint All-Domain Command and Control efforts and expanded in 2024 to support more locations. 

Another objective in the document calls for the Air Force to invest in a wide range of IT infrastructure, including 5G, fiber optics, traditional internet, and even satellite communications. Each comes with distinct advantages and challenges, which the strategy notes, but taken together, they “enhance flexibility for warfighters by allowing seamless movement of high-performance data.” 

Specifically, the strategy calls out the benefits of commercial Low-Earth orbit SATCOM, 5G, and so-called “dark fiber.” 

For commercial SATCOM, SpaceX is the dominant provider through its Starlink and Starshield systems. But other companies are looking to expand into the lucrative market, and the Space Force is even building its own LEO data transport satellites. The aim is to ensure coverage in areas with otherwise “unreliable or non-existent connectivity,” the strategy states, to enable the DAF Battle Network, envisioned to be a vast, interconnected command, control, and communications system. 

5G wireless internet is another objective. The Air Force has rolled out pilot programs and invested millions of dollars to enable such connectivity, and its Network of the Future strategy seeks further enhancements to bandwidth and speed in the continental U.S. Using that technology overseas would run into spectrum control challenges and security challenges.

The Air Force also sees potential in leveraging “dark fiber” to build secure networks. The Air Force would lease unused fiber optic cables and add its own transmitters, routers, and electronic equipment to “light” the cables.

“Dark fiber offers significant strategic advantages for the DOD, including enhanced security, flexibility, and control over network infrastructure, allowing the DAF to establish dedicated, private networks independent of public infrastructure to reduce cyber threat exposure and enable secure data transmission,” the strategy states. 

Commercial 

As with commercial SATCOM, the use of dark fiber expands the use of existing systems, services, and technology, while adapting it to military requirements. 

“Adopting commercial technology enhances the DAF’s flexibility, speed of deployment, cost-effectiveness, interoperability, scalability, and security, enabling rapid adaptation to evolving operational needs,” the document states. 

The National Security Agency’s Commercial Solutions for Classified program is a source for identifying secure providers and tech, and a means to avoid building custom classified networks. 

Commercial Off-the-Shelf internet technology should also be used for non-mission critical base infrastructure, the strategy states, and COTS components and parts can even be used in “theater deployable communications” kits. 

Commercial services can also enhance Base Infrastructure Modernization, the strategy says, urging the Air Force to “transition to enterprise as-a-service operations,” effectively outsourcing those needs.