Advanced Technology and Sensors

Abstract

The Advanced Technology and Sensors (ATS) program coordinates the development of platform-agile advanced technologies (sensors, low-cost, low-SWAP attritable ISR sensors, data links, targeting support, and quick reaction capabilities) in support of High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) platforms, manned and unmanned airborne reconnaissance platforms, Autonomous Collaborative Platforms, and Collaborative Combat Aircraft. Its objectives are to develop, demonstrate, and rapidly transition advanced, interoperable, multi-platform solutions to reduce the find, fix, target, and track kill chain timeline. This program coordinates the development of common collection, processing, and dissemination solutions for near-real time intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance. The ATS program also increases interoperability by developing common standards and interfaces. The funds in this program are distributed in priority order for the goal of building a comprehensive Geospatial Intelligence (GEOINT) capability for the USAF. On an annual basis, developmental technologies are reviewed against warfighter capabilities and requirements based on strategic roadmaps and on the results of the Airborne Sensors for ISR Analysis of Alternatives, as prefaced in the Challenging Targets Initial Capabilities Document. Efforts advancing the technological maturity of promising sensors and processing capabilities are reviewed and prioritized into a recommended list for senior executive direction to implement in the coming year. The program office has the ability to rapidly initiate an Imaging & Targeting Support (I&TS) project in order to expedite development and acquisition of urgently needed capabilities for the warfighter. Next Generation Sensor (NGS) is a platform-agile suite of sensor technologies defined for the best flexibility and capability for an ever-changing scale of ISR missions. NGS will further technology maturation and risk reduction of selected technologies initiated under I&TS culminating in an operational prototype demonstrated in an AgilePod. Execution of the NGS activities are founded upon three pillars: Open Standards, Artificial Intelligence (AI)/Machine Learning(ML) algorithms, and Advanced Platform-Agile Sensors. The power behind the NGS program is an open architectural system design that enables rapid third-party software and LRU insertion/replacement allowing for DevSecOps execution, onboard multi-modal and multi-INT processing real-time, sensor cross-cueing, and AI/ML application. The AI/ML algorithms will be used to enable assisted target detection and identification. NGS will anticipate and more quickly counter adversaries' future improvements in their abilities to hide from and defeat ISR sensors. NGS efforts include, but are not limited to: Multi-Intelligence Common Open Architecture Reconnaissance Programs Standard (MI-COARPS), Advanced Platform-Agile Sensors, Assisted Target Recognition for ISR (ATRI), and Digital Engineering (DE), to include Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE). The Open Standards pillar of next generation capabilities is supported through Sensors Open Systems Architecture (SOSA) which coordinates advanced technologies and open architecture development for multi-INT sensor modalities. Consistent with NDS, algorithms are multi-INT sensor agile that are submitted for formal adoption by the DOD-Intelligence Community (IC) Joint Enterprise Standards Committee (JESC) GEOINT and SIGINT standards groups. Platform agile sensors pillar of next-generation capabilities will be supported by developing scalable sensors using both on-the-shelf and emerging sensors suites from the labs, industry, and other Government agencies. This program element may include necessary emergent or unanticipated civilian pay expenses required to manage, execute, and deliver the ATS program for emergent or unanticipated weapon system capability. The use of such program funds would be in addition to the civilian pay expenses budgeted in program element 0605827F. This effort is in Budget Activity 4, Advanced Component Development and Prototypes (ACD&P), because efforts are necessary to evaluate integrated technologies, representative modes or prototype systems in a high fidelity and realistic operating environment.

Document Details

• Document Type: R2 Budgetary Justification
• Publication Date: Oct 01, 2024
• Source ID: 0604257F_4_3600_PB_2024
• Change Summary Explanation: FY24 increased due to Next Generation Sensors move from ARS PE 0305206F Project 672001 to ATS PE 0604257F Project 642001 for continued development, tech maturation, and risk reduction. Also, increased I&TS funding to support Air Force and GCWG ISR prioritized efforts (such as radar improvement, next-generation HSI, LIDAR, ISR Standards, EO/IR, and data mitigation technologies).
• Service Agency Name: Air Force

Entities

Organizations

• United States Air Force

Tags

Communities of Interest

• Autonomy
• C4I
• Kinetic Weapons
• Materials and Manufacturing Processes
• Sensors

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

• Artificial Intelligence
• Data Processing
• Detection
• Detectors
• Digital Engineering
• Geospatial Intelligence
• High Altitude
• Image Registration
• Information Systems
• Lidar
• Machine Learning
• Model Based Systems Engineering
• Recognition
• Sensor Fusion
• Synthetic Aperture Radar
• Systems Engineering
• Target Recognition

Fields of Study

• Engineering

Readers

• Civilian Systems Systems Program Capability Development and Upgrade Support Activity Expense and Pay Management.
• Enterprise Information Systems Architecture and Joint Command Capability Interoperability Support.
• Sensor Fusion and Tracking Systems.

Technology Areas

• AI & ML
• AI & ML - Autonomous Systems
• AI & ML - DoD AI Strategy
• Autonomy
• Autonomy - UAVs