Scientists with the Air Force Research Laboratory and researchers with Northrop Grumman have demonstrated technology that will allow warfighters to request and receive surveillance information via a handheld device while engaged in urban conflict. AFRL demonstrated the Heterogeneous Urban RSTA Team (HURT) system, which comprises a command and control center (HC3) that automatically determines what RSTA (reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition) unmanned aerial vehicles can provide real-time information tailored to a specific field request. “The HURT system was able to simultaneously control four small UAVs and provide streaming video through the HC3 back to a hand-held warfighter interface,” said AFRL’s William Koenig.
The U.S. began extensive air and artillery strikes against Islamic State group targets in Syria on Dec. 19 in retaliation for the killing of three Americans on Dec. 13 by a gunman affiliated with ISIS, U.S. officials said.
