Intelligence, Surveillance, and ReconnaissanceAnalyzing and Reacting to Threats
2nd annual C4ISR, CyberSecurity, Robots Platforms & Sensors Conference
10/6/2009
ISR – A Working Definition
• Technologies, Information, and Systems Solutions that provide intelligence data, and the rationale for taking offensive action or countering force directed against National and/or Military assets
10/6/2009
Current Strategic Challenges
• Traditional challenges - force on force conventional war (PRC, DPRK)
– Must be prepared, but will likely be the exception
• Irregular challenges - “unconventional” methods to counter traditional advantages of stronger opponents
– Will likely be preferred method to target US interests
• Catastrophic challenges – WMD or WMD-like effects
• Disruptive challenges – breakthrough technologies to negate current US advantages in key operational domains
Confront challenges earlier and more comprehensively, before they are allowed to mature
10/6/2009
Targeting Cycle Improvements
• Detection-Identification-tracking-engagement-assessment cycle
• New Technologies– Digital Film, Internet, Email
• New Tactics– Persistent Bombing– “Swiss Army Knife” weapons loads– Predictive Battlespace Awareness– Coherent Change Detection– Real Time Integration of
crypto/language experts• Compression of Kill Chain W
WII/K
orea
Desert
Stor
m OIF0
50100150200250300350400
Targeting Cycle (days)
Targeting Cycle
*NATO reviewed air targets
10/6/2009
Current ISR Operations
• Planning, Analysis and Targeting– Predictive of emerging, future enemy actions and
threats– Accurate, precise information
• Information Gathering– Builds a “pattern of life”– Characterize enemy behaviors
• Local Support– Convoy Overwatch, Route Surveys– Humanitarian mission support
10/6/20096
Increasing Multi-Mission Capability
Precision Strike
Buddy Lase
CAS
CSAR SupportTAC-A
Convoy Overwatch
Raid OverwatchTarget Development
10/6/2009
ISR Fusion Requirements
• Asymmetrical Warfare– Broader areas for surveillance– Less time to locate– Requires more accuracy
• Dominant SA– Rapid, expert analysis and
information fusing– Synthesis with existing
contextual knowledge• Multi-Sensor
– Layered sensing requires robust processing
– Sophisticated analytical tools to integrate data
10/6/2009
Evolving ISR Capabilities
Existing Today TomorrowObjective
• Stove-piped Platforms– Sensors– Processing– Ground Stations– U2, JSTARS
• Integrated SensorSystems– Integrated
Sensors & Processing
– Integrated Ground Stations
– Unmanned Platforms
• Multi-Mission Systems– E-10A/MC2A– Space Based Radar– USAF C2C– Multi-INT– Information Fusion– Multi-Mission
aircraft (MMA)– DD(X)
• Network Centric Warfare– Fully Interoperable
Global Grid– Real-Time, Interactive
Multi-INT– Achieve Rapid Global
Engagement of strategic targets
AEHF
Goal – Integrated Air, Space, and Ground C2ISR
10/6/2009
Operational Challenges to ISR
• Insufficient ISR capacity and capability– All ISR is Low Density/High Demand
• Balancing rapid acquisition with sustainment (“boutique” systems)
• Developing a fully interoperable, interdependent ISR structure (including NTISR and NTM)
– Eliminating multiple stove-piped architectures and complicated C2 infrastructures that slow information dissemination
• Developing capabilities to provide adequate predictive awareness of adversary intentions and reactions
• Developing capabilities to identify, monitor, track, and engage specific individuals, small groups, and mobile, concealed, and buried targets
10/6/2009
Obstacles for Global ISR
• Permissive vs Non-permissive environment• Air Space for UAS• Sensors optimized for varied terrain• Breakaway from FMV = persistence paradigm• No silver bullet sensors/platform coming down
the pipe• Global ISR capability visibility
OEF/OIF May Not Be The Template