SO Intelligence Systems

Abstract

This project provides for the identification, development, and testing of Special Operations Forces (SOF) intelligence equipment to identify and eliminate deficiencies in providing timely intelligence to deployed forces. Sub-projects address the primary areas of intelligence dissemination, sensor systems, integrated threat warning to SOF mission platforms, and tactical exploitation of national system capabilities. The systems developed in this line item are National Systems Support to SOF (NSSS); Joint Threat Warning System (JTWS); Counter-Proliferation Analysis and Planning System (CAPS); and Special Operations Command Research, Analysis and Threat Evaluation System (SOCRATES). USSOCOM has developed an overall strategy to ensure that Command, Control, Communications, Computers, and Intelligence (C4I) systems continue to provide SOF with the required capabilities throughout the 21st century. USSOCOM's C4I systems comprise an integrated network of systems providing positive command and control and timely exchange of intelligence and threat warning to all organizational echelons. The C4I systems that support this new architecture employ the latest standards and technology by transitioning from separate systems to full integration with the Global Information Grid (GIG). The GIG allows SOF elements to operate with any force combination in multiple environments. The intelligence programs funded in this project will meet annual emergent requirements and are grouped by the level of organizational element they support: Operational Element (Team) and Above Operational Element (Garrison). OPERATIONAL ELEMENT (TEAM) • NSSS is a research and development rapid prototyping program which functions as HQSOCOM's Tactical Exploitation of National Capabilities (TENCAP) program. NSSS improves the combat effectiveness of USSOCOM, its components, and the Theater Special Operations Commands (TSOCs) by leveraging National Agency and Service development efforts focused on improving space-based intelligence products and communications and special communications capabilities to tactical SOF units, to include geographic intelligence (GEOINT), Signal Intelligence (SIGINT), Special Communications, and Intelligence Fusion, Reporting, Dissemination and Processing. The Research and Development (R&D) efforts pursued by NSSS are of a rapid development, fielding and deployment character and focus on USSOCOM's man-hunting mission. Though not exclusive, they are usually adjunct support efforts to USSOCOM's existing Military Intelligence Programs (MIP), to include SOCRATES, Global Video Surveillance, Hostile Forces - Tagging, Tracking, and Locating (HF-TTL) , JTWS, Distributed Common Ground/Surface System Special Operations Forces (DCGS-SOF), Friendly Force Tracking, and Tactical Local Area Network (TACLAN). • JTWS is an evolutionary acquisition (EA) program that provides threat warning, force protection, enhanced situational awareness, and target identification/acquisition information to SOF via signal intercept, direction finding and SIGINT. JTWS will employ continuing technology updates to address the changing threat environment. SOF SIGINT operators are globally deployed and fully embedded within Special Operations (SO) teams and aircrews in every operational environment. This state-of-the-art technology enables SOF operators to provide critical time sensitive targeting and actionable intelligence to the operational commander during mission execution. Intelligence derived from operations supports campaign objectives and the National Military Strategy. This system has variants that utilize common technologies and interfaces allowing operators to task, organize, and scale equipment based on anticipated signal environments and areas of operation. Variants will be modular; lightweight with minimal power requirements; and configurable to support body worn/mobile or static, air, maritime and precision geo-location operations in support of all SOF missions. Each variant, except static, will be capable of operation by a single trained operator. The four variants are Ground SIGINT Kit (GSK) Bodyworn/Mobile, Team Transportable GSK static, Air, Maritime, and Precision Geo-Location (Ground and Air). ABOVE OPERATIONAL ELEMENT (GARRISON) • CAPS. Department of Defense (DoD) has a planning mission for counter-proliferation (CP) contingency operations. CAPS has been identified by the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) as the standard CP planning tool set for DoD, and the Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Nuclear and Chemical and Biological Defense Program has consolidated RDT&E funding at USSOCOM for overall program management. U.S. Strategic Command serves as the coordinator for CAPS production requirements and provides O&M funding. The Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DITRA) provides science and technology expertise and integration support to enhance CAPS capabilities. CAPS provides tools and assessments to DoD and SOF mission planners to aid in worldwide identification and analysis of suspected weapons of mass destruction and potential targets; assesses the associated effectiveness, costs and risks of various CP options and their collateral effects; and develops alternative plans. CAPS is a primary source of CP mission planning information for Combatant Commanders who are the principal customers. CAPS requires ongoing development, integration and testing of leading edge technology for operational planning and processes in order to provide the best possible engineering analysis and to support consequence engineering to meet changing threats. CAPS program funding and responsibility transfers to the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) for consolidation and interface with DIA's Counter Weapons of Mass Destruction (CWMD) Analysis Cell (CWAC) beginning in FY 2014. • SOCRATES is an umbrella program that acquires and supports the network and computing infrastructure for SOF intelligence information up to and including the Top Secret, Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI) level. SOCRATES integrates intelligence information from national, theater, Service and SOF-specific databases; provides news service and message traffic; automated imagery processing, dissemination, and archival; analyst-to-analyst electronic mail and collaborative tools; web interfaces/search capabilities and browse-down capability to Secret web servers; and secure voice and facsimile. It provides a seamless and interoperable interface enabling SOF-unique intelligence support to mission planning and intelligence preparation of the battle space. • Classified. Provided under separate cover. • This project includes the following Congressional add: • National Systems Support to SOF Single Card Solution effort was to redesign the L-band Single Card Solution (SCS) radio circuits to increase the frequency range to be compatible with USAF and Civil Aviation Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) bands. The resulting design, with further work, will be integrated into the cooperative updating identification aid for dismounted operations (CUIDADO) handset to provide ground forces the capability to respond to air-to-ground/surface/UAS IFF interrogations from USAF assets to establish their friendly status. This unprecedented capability will be an advancement in preventing air-to-ground fratricides and assist in recovery/extraction operations.

Document Details

• Document Type: Project
• Publication Date: Oct 01, 2013
• Source ID: S400_1160405BB_7_0400_PB_2013

Tags

Readers

• Enterprise Information Systems Architecture and Joint Command Capability Interoperability Support.
• Geospatial Intelligence and Artificial Intelligence Analytics
• Irregular Warfare and Special Operations Cyberspace Operations against Adversarial Threats.

Technology Areas

• Fully Networked C3
• Fully Networked C3 - Command and Control
• Microelectronics
• Space