Gorgon Stare
Abstract
Gorgon Stare Quick Reaction Capability (QRC) supports the Combatant Commander (COCOM) urgent operational need for wide area airborne surveillance capability and is managed in the Air Force through the BIG SAFARI Systems Program Office (645th Aeronautical Systems Group), Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance and Special Operations Forces (ISR&SOF) Directorate, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC), Air Force Materiel Command. Development of the Gorgon Stare QRC system provides a podded wide area airborne sensor suite integrated on dedicated MQ-9 Reaper Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) to provide a city-sized surveillance capability for the COCOMs. The Joint Requirements Oversight Council Memorandum (JROCM 106-08, dated 27 May 2008) approved the Air Force concept for a program plan to address Service requirements for broad area airborne sensors capability on existing manned and unmanned aircraft system platforms. This plan evolved into the current incremental delivery of ten pod sets of Gorgon Stare QRC carried on MQ-9 Reaper RPAs. The acquisition strategy for this Air Force QRC podded sensor suite solution includes delivery of incremental capability upgrades, with development of each capability upgrade expanding the capabilities of the previous increment. Provisions to consider integrating pre-planned product improvements (P3I) and/or multi-INT enhanced capabilities to address evolving and emerging technology advancements are within the scope of the acquisition strategy. P3I efforts being conducted with FY14 Congressional Add funding includes merging capabilities such as Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) and Near Vertical Direction Finding (NVDF) with Wide Area Motion Imagery (WAMI). Funds spent on NVDF will provide a ramp for follow-on actions. Activities also include studies and anlysis to support both current program planning and execution as well as future program planning.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Project
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2015
- Source ID
- 675291_0305206F_7_3600_PB_2015
Related Documents
- Root: Airborne Reconnaissance Systems
- Child Accomplishment: Gorgon Stare 2, Pre-planned Product Improvement