The needs analysis comes as Congress has been keeping a watchful eye on what some lawmakers worry is a brewing turf battle between the Space Force and the spy satellite agencies.
The member agencies of the Program Integration Council now are all "cross-cleared" so they can share information about their planned space acquisitions, said Lt. Gen. Michael Guetlein, head of Space Systems Command.
As missions stretch farther and comms grow less reliable, predictive software could become the edge that keeps missions afloat.
"2026 is the fight we've got to get ready for," said Space System Command head Lt. Gen. Michael Guetlein.
Space RCO is currently managing 13 classified programs, with another about to be initiated, said Director Mike Roberts.