Advanced Technology and Sensors

Mission — Imaging and Targeting Support source

In FY 2026, I&TS plans to transition 3 projects (GMTI mode, AIR, RUBBER DUCKIE) to an OAFP, complete development of 2 FY24 projects (BB8, Collaborative Teaming), continue development of 1 FY25 project (ATRIUM) and begin 5 new projects approved by the GCWG in June 2025. Details of the GMTI mode, AIR, RUBBER DUCKIE, BB8, Collaborative Teaming, and ATRIUM projects were provided to Congress previously and are available upon request at the appropriate classification levels. Due to delays in the President's Budget submission, the ATS team can provide the detailed information on FY 2026 projects below. Additional information is available upon request at the appropriate classification levels. Cost and schedule information (R3 and R4) will be updated upon contract award. For FY 2026, the GCWG Focus Area included: 1. Find, Fix, and Track Group 1-3 UASs. 2. Improve surveillance and reconnaissance (e.g. longer range, greater accuracy, etc.) through cooperative or networked sensors and software. 3. Develop low Size, Weight, Power, and Cost (SWAP-C) scalable multi-INT sensors for small attritable or expendable UASs demonstrated in an autonomy package for leading edge swarms. The projects planned to initiate in the FY 2026 include: • AIR for SAR: Extends the FY 2024 Automatic Image Registration (AIR) capability to support Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) for an OAFP. • TALON CEREBRAL: Develop a collaborative, multiple-intelligence, evidence-based target identification tool that generates human-readable information to include measurements, target descriptions, and evidence. • ABBA: Integrates the previously developed BirdBox capability with Big Iron within the Agile Mission Suite (AMS) Government Reference Architecture to provide a flight ready, rapidly deployable multi-modality sensor exploitation system for multiple OAFPs • RESOLUTE MINIONS: Develops an airborne, multi-intelligence capability to detection, identify, and track group 1-3 UASs. • Frontline Perception System: Develops localized mesh networking and data orchestration to enable fusion on small UAS swarms in communication denied environments. Includes multimodal ATRs for swarm platforms and on-board processing for airborne platforms to maintain target custody. This program element may include necessary civilian pay expenses required to manage, execute, and deliver weapon system capability. The use of such program funds would be in addition to the civilian pay expenses budgeted in program element 0605829F, 0605831F, 0605833F, or 0605898F. In FY 2024, 0.000 was expended for civilian pay expenses in this program element, and in FY 2025 0.000 is forecast for civilian pay expenses in this program element.

Mission — Next Gen Sensors Tech Maturation/Risk Reduction source

The NGS-RR program is a platform-agile suite of sensor development and demonstration technologies designed for the best flexibility and capability for an ever-changing scale of ISR missions. NGS-RR furthers maturation and risk reduction of select technologies initiated under I&TS and other low TRL maturation efforts culminating in operational prototype demonstrations. The power behind the NGS-RR program is an open architectural system design that enables rapid third-party software and line replaceable unit insertion/replacement. NGS-RR implements foundational sensor development technologies including the MEDUSA flight demonstration platform, Digital Engineering (DE), Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE), and a software environment and repository (AURORA). In FY 2026, NGS-RR will continue flight tests of fully integrated podded payloads, integration of maturation of NAVAIR and other maritime automated target recognition algorithms and support collaborative teaming demonstrations. Demonstrations include, but are not limited to, capabilities developed with funding in the I&TS BPAC, Airborne SIGINT Enterprise PE (0304260F), and Airborne Reconnaissance Systems PE (0305296F). Additionally, RESOLUTE SENTRY will transition from the AF Research Laboratory to NGS-RR for technical maturation and integration into the first operational platform in FY 2026. RESOLUTE SENTRY is an AI-driven, multi-platform, sense-making tool for predictive analytics and orchestration at the tactical edge. It provides real-time, high-quality detection, identification and tracking to close kill chains and predict adversary activity. The program delivers a platform-agnostic, edge-hostable software solution to ingest and fuse multi-INT data across multiple platforms at the tactical edge. The data will then be used to generate actionable information on the highly contested environment for Blue Force commanders and national decision making. RESOLUTE SENTRY will execute in this PE from FY26 to FY27, then will transition to ARS PE 35206F in FY28. R3 and R4 data will be updated upon award of the follow-on contract. This program element may include necessary civilian pay expenses required to manage, execute, and deliver weapon system capability. The use of such program funds would be in addition to the civilian pay expenses budgeted in program element 0605829F, 0605831F, 0605833F, or 0605898F. In FY 2024 0.000M was expended for civilian pay expenses in this program element, and in FY 2025 0.000M is forecast for civilian pay expenses in this program element.

Mission — Advanced Technology and Sensors source

The Advanced Technology and Sensors (ATS) Program Element (PE) coordinates the development, validation, test, and transition of platform-agile advanced sensor technologies (sensors, processing algorithms, automated target recognition software, multi-intelligence fusion) in support of aerial platforms including, but not limited to, High-Altitude Long Endurance (HALE), crewed and uncrewed airborne reconnaissance platforms, Autonomous Collaborative Platforms, and Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) as well as Other Air Force Platforms (OAFP) whose capabilities are protected at a higher level. ATS' objectives are to develop, demonstrate, and rapidly transition advanced, interoperable, multi-platform solutions to reduce the find, fix, track, and target kill chain timeline. ATS seeks out lower Technology Readiness Level (TRL) technologies that have the potential to fill Geospatial Intelligence (GEOINT) capability gaps to support CCMD plans and the future AF's future force design. ATS matures these technologies to TRL 6/7 prior to transitioning to existing programs of record or to the Airborne Reconnaissance Systems PE (0305206F) for follow-on development under Budget Authority 7 (BA-7). The PE includes two levels of effort including Next Generation Sensors - Risk Reduction (NGS-RR) and Imaging and Targeting Support (I&TS). The NGS-RR program is a platform-agile suite of sensor development and demonstration technologies designed for the best flexibility and capability for an ever-changing scale of ISR missions. NGS-RR furthers maturation and risk reduction of select technologies initiated under I&TS and other low TRL maturation efforts culminating in operational prototype demonstrations. The power behind the NGS-RR program is an open architectural system design that enables rapid third-party software and line replaceable unit insertion/replacement. NGS-RR implements foundational sensor development technologies including the MEDUSA flight demonstration platform, Digital Engineering (DE), Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE), and a software environment and repository (AURORA). In FY 2026, NGS-RR will continue flight tests of fully integrated podded payloads, integration of maturation of NAVAIR and other maritime automated target recognition algorithms and support collaborative teaming demonstrations. Additionally, RESOLUTE SENTRY will transition from the AF Research Laboratory to NGS-RR for technical maturation and integration into the first operational platform in FY 2026. RESOLUTE SENTRY is an AI-driven, multi-platform, sense-making tool for predictive analytics and orchestration at the tactical edge. It provides real-time, high-quality detection, identification and tracking to close kill chains and predict adversary activity. The program delivers a platform-agnostic, edge-hostable software solution to ingest and fuse multi-INT data across multiple platforms at the tactical edge. The data will then be used to generate actionable information on the highly contested environment for Blue Force commanders and national decision making. RESOLUTE SENTRY will execute in this PE from FY26 to FY27, then will transition to ARS PE 35206F in FY28. The I&TS program funds the technical maturation of low TRL sensors and processing capabilities to rapidly fill current GEOINT sensing capability gaps. To ensure alignment with Congressional intent, urgent Combatant Command (CCMD) requirements, and departmental priorities, the Air Force (AF) established a Headquarters level working group to guide, prioritize, and synchronize these enterprise sensor technology investments The GEOINT Capabilities Working Group (GCWG) reviews developmental technologies in the fourth quarter of each FY to approve and prioritize efforts for the following year. The Program Office is specifically structured to rapidly initiate projects in the execution year to expedite technical maturation and delivery to operational platforms at the speed of technology. Additional details are available at the appropriate classification level. This program element may include necessary civilian pay expenses required to manage, execute, and deliver weapon system capability. The use of such program funds would be in addition to the civilian pay expenses budgeted in program element 0605829F, 0605831F, 0605833F, or 0605898F. In FY 2024 $0.000M was expended for civilian pay expenses in this program element, and in FY 2025 $0.000M is forecast for civilian pay expenses in this program element. This effort is in Budget Activity 4, Advanced Component Development and Prototypes (ACD&P), because efforts are necessary to evaluate integrated technologies, representative modes or prototype systems in a high fidelity and realistic operating environment.

Accomplishments & Planned Programs (3)