The Air Force is looking to overhaul its intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance sensor suites to better track targets. The service is conducting an analysis of alternatives to look at “materiel solutions to detect mobile targets and targets obscured by natural or man-made means,” according to a request for information posted Jan. 12. The focus of the request is on sensors, including signals intelligence and geospatial intelligence, electro-optical, infrared, multispectral/hyperspectral imaging, ground surveillance radar, full motion video, light detection and ranging, and on-board processing of sensor data, according to the RFI. Contractors have until March 8 to respond. The alternatives are to be tested on an MQ-9 Reaper, RQ-4 Global Hawk, and a business jet, the request states. If the service moves forward with the overhaul it hopes to reach initial operational capability by 2026 and full operational capability by 2030.
The Department of the Air Force will establish a new center for artificial intelligence development, building on existing partnerships with MIT, Stanford University, and Microsoft, according to outgoing Chief Information Officer Venice Goodwine.