Common Imagery Ground / Surface Systems
Abstract
AF Distributed Common Ground Systems (DCGS) is a network-centric weapon system capable of tasking Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) sensors and receiving and providing the Processing, Exploitation, and Dissemination (PED) capability for data, information and intelligence from airborne, national, and commercial platforms and sensors. The weapon system consists of numerous active duty, Air National Guard, and mission partner sites interconnected by a robust communications infrastructure that allows collaborative reach-back operations. Operators correlate collected Geospatial Intelligence (GEOINT), Signals Intelligence (SIGINT), and Measurement and Signature Intelligence (MASINT) data to provide decision-quality information to the Joint Task Force (JTF) and below, including significant support to time-critical targeting. AF DCGS is the primary PED capability for the U-2, Global Hawk, Predator, Reaper and Project Liberty. AF DCGS is modernizing through sustainment by integrating the necessary technologies and tools to provide increased capabilities and meet emerging and urgent operational needs. These efforts will also integrate commercial and government furnished equipment upgrades to provide current technologies and achieve necessary application services. The next series of upgrades will meet the operational need to integrate new and/or improved sensor capabilities. They will also enhance interoperability by migrating to a Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) and improving data sharing ability per DoD direction. Program actions are categorized by four distinct efforts. The GEOINT effort provides the capability for Planning, Collecting, Processing, Analysis and Dissemination (PCPAD) of imagery intelligence. The Systems Release effort provides this capability for SIGINT. The Data Links effort provides Line-of-Site (LOS) and Satellite Communications (SATCOM) capabilities that allow AF DCGS to send and receive information between airborne Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) assets and the AF DCGS weapon system. The Network Communications effort involves modernizing AF DCGS infrastructure to improve data ingest, transfer, and storage capabilities while migrating the network toward a cloud architecture. AF DCGS also participates in the development, testing, and implementation of international standards (to include NATO standardization agreements) to ensure joint, allied, and coalition interoperability.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Project
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2015
- Source ID
- 674826_0305208F_7_3600_PB_2015
Related Documents
- Root: Distributed Common Ground/Surface Systems
- Child Accomplishment: Geospatial Intelligence (GEOINT)
- Child Accomplishment: Systems Release (SR)
- Child Accomplishment: Data Links
- Child Accomplishment: Network Communications (NETCOMMS)
- Child Accomplishment: Geospatial Product Library (GPL)