Global Tactical ISR
Abstract
(U) The Global Tactical ISR program will develop technologies to provide tactical-grade ISR with coverage scalable from the local to the global, to address issues of global importance. Our forces must conduct military operations with exquisite precision across an expansive theater of operations like the Pacific Ocean, in addition to highly specific locations such as a building in a densely populated urban area. The ISR that supports this wide range of operations needs to be correspondingly precise and accurate at rates typical of tactical operations, as well as meet salient requirements such as operate through jamming. New technologies are needed that address the demanding challenges presented by tactical-level ISR with geographic coverage extending from the extremely broad to the ultra narrow. These technologies include new signal sources for probing the environment, receivers, algorithms, and sensors in general. The program will result in fundamentally new technology approaches. For example, the application of commercial technologies to military problems often results in signature or performance compromises that need to be re-examined to enable the maximum benefit to the warfighter. Specific examples include a pulsed fiber-laser that pushes existing peak-power system limitations may be developed for rapidly deployable long-range laser radar systems, as well as a mid-IR laser sources for biological and chemical detection applications. Stand-off detection of special nuclear material at distances greater than 1 km may be enabled by a novel X-ray source. New engineering approaches to be developed by the program may include enhancing the performance of existing airborne and space-borne sensors through novel algorithms that minimize the need for costly new flight hardware. Thermal inertia imaging, and other technologies when combined with the advanced data processing may yield solutions to persistent problem sets such as underground facility detection and tunnel detection. Revolutionary new sensing modalities may enable the acquisition of new signatures to enhance our intelligence collection. The overriding objective of this program is the development of sensor technologies that enable ISR for local areas of operation typical of the brigade-level and below, as well as for the global and regional coverage needed by the Combatant Commands. This program plans to transition to the Services FY 2015.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Accomplishment
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2011
- Source ID
- a53555d52fdaad65366a2ebf547e2039
Related Documents
- Root: SENSOR TECHNOLOGY