Arthur McMiler
Rise8 will develop a secure software production and delivery chain to support the U.S. Space Force’s Future Operationally Resilient Ground Evolution, or FORGE, missile defense program.
Rise8 CEO Bryon Kroger said in a statement issued Tuesday that the company’s selection by the USSF Space Systems Command for the three-year FORGE Path to Production contract is a “significant milestone.”
“Our approach is centered on delivering scalable capabilities rapidly and securely, ensuring that advanced ground or space-based infrared systems can operate seamlessly while meeting evolving threats,” the Rise8 chief executive explained.
Get more insights on the FORGE program and other initiatives advancing air and space defense by attending the Potomac Officers Club’s 2025 Air and Space Summit, which will take place on July 31.
Rise8 Contract to Deliver Cloud-Native System
Work under the contract includes the establishment of a cloud-native path to production that would serve to facilitate the deployment of third-party software. Part of the effort involves the implementation of a continuous integration/continuous delivery pipeline aligned with the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Risk Management Framework. Another element involves the scaling of cloud environments at Impact Levels 5 and 6.
Other FORGE Contractors
The Space Systems Command initiated FORGE to support U.S. warfighters’ capability on missile warning and tracking. In March, SSC awarded BAE Systems a $151 million contract for the further development of FORGE’s command and control ground system. The contract aims to develop a prototype C2 system designed for the Next-Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared satellites.
Another contractor, SciTec, secured in April a $259 million award to provide FORGE with a scalable, cybersecure ground OPIR processing capability.
