Mentioned:Air Force Research Laboratory
The Air Force Research Laboratory's space vehicles directorate at Kirtland AFB is launching STAR-FISH, a new R&D effort to develop a secure-by-design satellite addressing cyber vulnerabilities in critical space missions. The program targets hardening space vehicle systems against emerging threats to position, navigation, timing, missile warning, ISR, and satellite communications.
What's happening
- Air Force Research Laboratory space vehicles directorate initiated STAR-FISH program at Kirtland AFB, New Mexico.
- Program focuses on research, design, development, testing, and demonstration of secure-by-design space vehicle systems.
- STAR-FISH addresses cyber threats to national critical space missions including PNT, missile warning, ISR, and SATCOM.
Why it matters
- Space-based PNT, missile warning, ISR, and SATCOM systems face mounting cyber vulnerabilities threatening military operational readiness.
- Secure-by-design approach embeds cybersecurity into satellite architecture from development, reducing retrofit costs and operational risk.
- Program establishes R&D foundation for hardened space vehicles protecting critical national defense and strategic communication capabilities.
Going deeper
- STAR-FISH acronym expands to Space Technology Advanced Research - Fast-tracking Innovative Software and Hardware initiative.
- Program encompasses comprehensive system approach rather than point solutions, integrating hardware and software security.
Source: Defense Daily · Oct 9, 2026 · Drafted with Claude, reviewed by Industrial Base Alpha.
