SD Pro Enhancements Through SBIR Phase I and Phase II Awards
SD Pro is SD Government’s (SDG) secure, cloud-based mission planning, flight operations, and connectivity management platform developed to support military and government aviation operations operating in complex, globally distributed environments. Under SBIR Phase I and Phase II awards, SDG adapted and extended the SD Pro platform to meet Department of the Air Force (DAF) requirements for resilient information sharing, predictive connectivity awareness, and mission command and control (C2) across airborne platforms.
SD Pro serves as the foundational digital layer that integrates flight planning, aircraft status, satellite connectivity, network performance, and mission constraints into a single operational view. It is designed to support Joint All-Domain Command and Control (JADC2) objectives by enabling commanders, planners, and aircrews to operate from a shared, authoritative data environment.
Challenge
Air Force mobility and special operations units operate globally across contested, degraded, and spectrum-constrained environments. Mission planners historically relied on fragmented tools, static maps, manual processes, and disconnected systems to plan routes, manage connectivity, and ensure compliance with host nation and spectrum restrictions.
Key challenges included:
- Lack of predictive awareness of SATCOM availability along planned flight routes
- Inability to visualize satellite beam coverage, outages, or handoffs prior to execution
- Limited integration between flight planning systems and communications planning
- Manual, error-prone processes for Host Nation Agreement (HNA) compliance
- No centralized platform to manage connectivity risk, aircraft-specific constraints, and mission timing
These gaps directly impacted mission reliability, command and control, and survivability, particularly for long-haul mobility aircraft and special operations platforms.
Solution
Through SBIR Phase I and Phase II, SDG evolved SD Pro into a mission-grade operational platform tailored for DoD aviation use. The solution integrates real-time and predictive data from satellite network operators, flight planning systems, and aircraft-specific parameters to enable proactive decision-making.
SD Pro provides a unified operational picture that allows planners to evaluate connectivity risk, mission constraints, and routing decisions before execution. During operations, SD Pro maintains situational awareness and supports dynamic replanning as conditions change.
Critically, SD Pro was architected to be network-agnostic, supporting all satellite network operators and communications pathways, including GEO, MEO, and LEO constellations. This flexibility supports DoD objectives for resilient, multi-path communications architectures.
Key Solution Components
Advanced Connectivity Management
- Predictive SATCOM coverage mapping aligned to specific flight routes
- Visualization of satellite beams, outages, and handoff points
- Identification of dark zones and degraded coverage areas
Flight Plan Integration
- Direct ingestion of Air Force flight plans (e.g., MAFPS for C-17)
- Automated analysis of planned routes against connectivity and regulatory constraints
Host Nation Agreement (HNA) & Spectrum Compliance
- Automated mapping of country-specific SATCOM restrictions
- Visualization of restricted or prohibited transmission zones
- Mission-level compliance awareness to reduce risk of violations
Aircraft-Specific Risk Modeling
- Tail-blockage and antenna masking visualization for specific airframes
- Directional risk overlays tied to satellite geometry
Operational Dashboard & Data Fusion
- Centralized mission view combining aircraft status, route, connectivity, and risk
- Role-based access for planners, commanders, and operators
Demonstrations and Validation
During Phase I, SD Pro feasibility was validated through prototype demonstrations and stakeholder engagement with Air Force mobility and special operations communities. The Phase I effort confirmed that SD Pro could integrate disparate data sources into a single operational environment and deliver capabilities not previously available to the DAF.
Phase II focused on operational integration and user-driven enhancements. SDG worked closely with Air Mobility Command stakeholders, including C-17 operators, to refine features such as connectivity forecasting, beam visualization, and HNA compliance tools. Demonstrations validated SD Pro’s ability to predict communications risk prior to mission execution and support mission replanning.
SD Pro has been adopted by multiple Air Force units in limited operational use, providing real-world validation and user feedback.
Technology Readiness Advancement
SD Pro progressed from TRL 5 to TRL 9 across SBIR Phase I and Phase II.
- Phase I validated feasibility, architecture, and integration potential
- Phase II delivered an operationally relevant prototype with mission-ready features
- The platform is now suitable for transition to operational use under SBIR Phase III
The underlying commercial SD Pro platform provided a mature baseline, significantly reducing technical risk and accelerating readiness.
Demonstrations and Validation
During Phase I, SD Pro feasibility was validated through prototype demonstrations and stakeholder engagement with Air Force mobility and special operations communities. The Phase I effort confirmed that SD Pro could integrate disparate data sources into a single operational environment and deliver capabilities not previously available to the DAF.
Phase II focused on operational integration and user-driven enhancements. SDG worked closely with Air Mobility Command stakeholders, including C-17 operators, to refine features such as connectivity forecasting, beam visualization, and HNA compliance tools. Demonstrations validated SD Pro’s ability to predict communications risk prior to mission execution and support mission replanning.
SD Pro has been adopted by multiple Air Force units in limited operational use, providing real-world validation and user feedback.
Technology Readiness Advancement
SD Pro progressed from TRL 5 to TRL 9 across SBIR Phase I and Phase II.
- Phase I validated feasibility, architecture, and integration potential
- Phase II delivered an operationally relevant prototype with mission-ready features
- The platform is now suitable for transition to operational use under SBIR Phase III
The underlying commercial SD Pro platform provided a mature baseline, significantly reducing technical risk and accelerating readiness.
Strategic Benefits to DoD and SDG
Benefits to DoD:
- Improved mission reliability through predictive connectivity planning
- Reduced operational risk and mission replanning during execution
- Enhanced command and control through shared situational awareness
- Alignment with JADC2 and resilient communications objectives
- Rapid acquisition pathway via Direct-to-Phase III SBIR
Benefits to SDG:
- Establishes SD Pro as SDG’s primary digital platform for DoD aviation
- Enables scalable deployment across multiple programs and platforms
- Provides a defensible Phase III transition vehicle
- Strengthens SDG’s role as a traditional defense technology provider
Partnerships and Collaboration
SD Pro development leveraged collaboration with:
- U.S. Air Force Air Mobility Command (operational stakeholders)
- Satellite Network Operators (GEO, MEO, LEO)
- SDG internal engineering, data science, and operations teams
The SBIR framework enabled rapid iteration, close user engagement, and alignment with operational requirements, positioning SD Pro as a cornerstone capability for future DoD aviation programs.