IEIST Technologies Enabling TCT Prosecution

Abstract

Twelve years after Desert Storm, conduct of Time Critical Target (TCT) operations remains one of the most difficult challenges facing US military forces. While a variety of DoD and DARPA programs are addressing technologies to locate and identify TCTs, finding the target candidate is only one part of the problem. Success will only occur when we shorten the entire "kill chain", and operate within the enemy's maneuver timeline. The automated exchange and processing of battlefield information is critical to achieving viable decision timelines in this arena. The situation demands a secure, robust network backbone supporting automated decision aids designed to execute commander's guidance. Critical decision aids include the ability to monitor and exchange critical tactical information, to evaluate real-time intelligence and generate actionable Target Evidence Files and to re-assign en-route tactical and support assets to higher value tasks. The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), with support of The Boeing Company, is executing several research initiatives targeted at these information exchange shortfalls. AFRL is developing the Joint Battlespace Infosphere (JBI) as a means to realize information dominance. In effect, the JBI can be viewed as a tactical Internet that provides unprecedented access to data sources. Through this wide-area network connectivity, the JBI can be accessed, searched, and manipulated to create new products. This paper will discuss the Insertion of Embedded Infosphere Support Technology (IEIST) research in which the Guardian Agent (GA) will be embedded within the Force Template (FT) and transmitted to the appropriate C2 node(s) over Link 16. The demonstration C2 node is planned to be the Advanced AWACS Prototype Software, which will host the transmitted GAs as well as the TCT Evidence File Generation Agents, and the Real-time Battle Management system that will match tactical assets to selected TCTs.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 01, 2003
Accession Number
ADA467431

Entities

People

  • Charles P. Satterwaite
  • David E. Corman
  • Thomas S. Herm

Organizations

  • Air Force Research Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Autonomy
  • C4I
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Air Force Research Laboratories
  • Aircrafts
  • Armored Vehicles
  • Command And Control
  • Data Links
  • Detectors
  • Human Intelligence
  • Information Exchange
  • Information Systems
  • Military Research
  • National Security
  • Navigation
  • Systems Engineering
  • Tactical Aircraft
  • Warfare
  • Weapon Systems

Readers

  • Aerospace Engineering
  • Computer Networking
  • Enterprise Information Systems Architecture and Joint Command Capability Interoperability Support.