Assessing the Value of Intelligence Collected by U.S. Air Force Airborne Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Platforms

Assessing the Value of Intelligence Collected by U.S. Air Force Airborne Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Platforms PDF Author: Abbie Tingstad
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781977406934
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 144

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Book Description
The changes in intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) and processing, exploitation, and dissemination (PED) capabilities over the past two decades have led to ever-increasing demand from warfighters. Commanders, planners, and operators across the U.S. Air Force (USAF) ISR enterprise face difficult decisions about how to best meet ISR needs at the strategic, operational, and tactical levels. Yet USAF currently lacks a consistent, quantitative, empirically grounded method of assessing the value that the service's airborne ISR provides-which is essential to good resourcing decisions. This report presents an approach to ISR assessments that seeks to articulate the costs and benefits of USAF airborne ISR in specific operational contexts. Though aspects of this may be applicable across different USAF ISR organizations, this work focused primarily on the Distributed Common Ground System and the operational theaters it does or could support. The assessment methodology is designed to be flexible enough to support ISR resourcing decisions at different echelons, yet consistent enough to foster feedback, standardize data collections, and make use of empirical analysis methodologies.

Assessing the Value of Intelligence Collected by U.S. Air Force Airborne Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Platforms

Assessing the Value of Intelligence Collected by U.S. Air Force Airborne Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Platforms PDF Author: Abbie Tingstad
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781977406934
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 144

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Book Description
The changes in intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) and processing, exploitation, and dissemination (PED) capabilities over the past two decades have led to ever-increasing demand from warfighters. Commanders, planners, and operators across the U.S. Air Force (USAF) ISR enterprise face difficult decisions about how to best meet ISR needs at the strategic, operational, and tactical levels. Yet USAF currently lacks a consistent, quantitative, empirically grounded method of assessing the value that the service's airborne ISR provides-which is essential to good resourcing decisions. This report presents an approach to ISR assessments that seeks to articulate the costs and benefits of USAF airborne ISR in specific operational contexts. Though aspects of this may be applicable across different USAF ISR organizations, this work focused primarily on the Distributed Common Ground System and the operational theaters it does or could support. The assessment methodology is designed to be flexible enough to support ISR resourcing decisions at different echelons, yet consistent enough to foster feedback, standardize data collections, and make use of empirical analysis methodologies.

Methodology for Improving the Planning, Execution, and Assessment of Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Operations

Methodology for Improving the Planning, Execution, and Assessment of Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Operations PDF Author: Sherrill Lee Lingel
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 124

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Book Description
Lingel et al. present alternative methods to (1) approach U.S. Air Force intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) tasking and assessment processes and (2) outline a methodology for assessing the benefits and costs of different ISR employment strategies. The U.S. Air Force greatly increased the number of operational surveillance and reconnaissance sensors and its ability to process data from these sensors in support of operations across a wide range of conflicts. However, along with the increased number of sensors comes an increase in the complexity of the tasking of these assets needed to prosecute either planned for or emergent battlefield targets. As part of the authors' research, they developed new assessment techniques and operational strategies to improve the command and control process for assigning ISR assets in dynamic environments. The authors also suggest tools to assist commanders of ISR assets in their decisions regarding allocating and retasking ISR assets. The report focuses on traditional target sets against adversaries whose behavior is well understood.

Effective and Efficient Use of US Air Force Airborne Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) and how to Meet Combatant Commander Requirements

Effective and Efficient Use of US Air Force Airborne Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) and how to Meet Combatant Commander Requirements PDF Author: John M. Harrison
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Aerial reconnaissance
Languages : en
Pages : 32

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Book Description
"The effective use of airborne ISR has been debated for several years. Since Desert Storm, the majority of airborne ISR platforms have been dedicated to Central Command's (CENTCOM) theater of operation. While the other theaters have legitimate intelligence targets to be monitored and pursued, CENTCOM has been the priority. This paper examines how ISR has been used in different theaters, how ISR assets are allocated to the combatant commands, improvements made in how ISR platforms operate, and recommendations on how the platforms can be used more effectively. The Air Force must seek training opportunities with ground forces before Army and Marine units deploy to foster a basic understanding of how ISR platforms can support them, as well as ISR operators learning what information ground forces want. This needs to start within the United States military services, but the education piece needs to happen with coalition partners too. Establishing a level of trust and understanding before ground forces deploy will enable success for real-time ISR operations."--Abstract.

Capability Planning and Analysis to Optimize Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Investments

Capability Planning and Analysis to Optimize Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Investments PDF Author: National Research Council
Publisher: National Academies Press
ISBN: 0309258146
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 117

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Book Description
Intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities have expanded situation awareness for U.S. forces, provided for more precise combat effects, and enabled better decision making both during conflicts and in peacetime, and reliance on ISR capabilities is expected to increase in the future. ISR capabilities are critical to 3 of the 12 Service Core Functions of the U.S. Air Force: namely, Global Integrated ISR (GIISR) and the ISR components of Cyberspace Superiority and Space Superiority, and contribute to all others. In response to a request from the Air Force for ISR and the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Science, Technology, and Engineering, the National Research Council formed the Committee on Examination of the Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) Capability Planning and Analysis (CP&A) Process. In this report, the committee reviews the current approach to the Air Force corporate planning and programming process for ISR capability generation; examines carious analytical methods, processes, and models for large-scale, complex domains like ISR; and identifies the best practices for the Air Force. In Capability Planning and Analysis to Optimize Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Investments, the current approach is analyzed and the best practices for the Air Force corporate planning and programming processed for ISR are recommended. This report also recommends improvements and changes to existing analytical tools, methods, roles and responsibilities, and organization and management that would be required to ensure the Air Force corporate planning and programming process for ISR is successful in addressing all Joint, National, and Coalition partner's needs.

Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance: Overarching Guidance Is Needed to Advance Information Sharing

Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance: Overarching Guidance Is Needed to Advance Information Sharing PDF Author: Davi M. D'Agostino
Publisher: DIANE Publishing
ISBN: 1437930743
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 14

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Book Description
The DoD has numerous intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) systems ¿ including manned and unmanned airborne, space-borne, maritime, and terrestrial systems ¿ that play critical roles in support of current military operations. The demand for these capabilities has increased dramatically. This testimony addresses: (1) the challenges the military services and defense agencies face processing, exploiting, and disseminating the information collected by ISR systems; and (2) the extent to which the military services and defense agencies have developed the capabilities required to share ISR information. The auditor visited numerous commands, military units, and locations in Iraq and the U.S. Illustrations.

Recommendations for Airborne Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance in the Year 2035 in a Cost Constrained Environment

Recommendations for Airborne Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance in the Year 2035 in a Cost Constrained Environment PDF Author: Douglas J. Lee
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Aerial reconnaissance
Languages : en
Pages : 35

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Book Description
"There is no crystal ball unveiling the future with perfect accuracy. The USAF must prepare for uncertainty; but it is certain that the future requires global strike capabilities. Effective global strike requires accurate targeting information. Surveillance and reconnaissance conducted in air, space, and cyberspace is the best way to gain this information and turn it into knowledge; all three domains are important, and all are required. In light of increasing technologic change, and fiscal restraints, this paper focuses on the following question: in a severely cost constrained environment, how can the Air Force modernize its existing & emerging assets to perform airborne surveillance and reconnaissance in order to enable global strike in 2035? This paper argues that fiscal realities require a strategy taking advantage of merging new technology on legacy systems. This strategy also requires smart acquisition of new aircraft utilizing game-changing technology such as nanotechnology in order to prepare for the most likely complex adversary scenarios. This is accomplished by addressing current and emerging sensor technology and their different types of collection capabilities. In addition, the different categories of airborne assets that can utilize those sensors, now and in the future are discussed. Those platforms and sensors are then contrasted against likely adversary scenarios to offer a prescription for the USAF. This paper advocates updating existing platforms with new technology rather than designing radically new platforms. The USAF has done this throughout its history, successfully merging legacy systems with emerging technology to accomplish its tasked missions."--Abstract.

Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance. Overarching Guidance Is Needed to Advance Information Sharing

Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance. Overarching Guidance Is Needed to Advance Information Sharing PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 15

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Book Description
The military services and defense agencies face three long-standing challenges with processing, exploiting, and disseminating ISR data. First, since 2002, DOD has rapidly increased its ability to collect ISR data in Iraq and Afghanistan; however, its capacity for processing, exploiting, and dissemination is limited and has not kept pace with the increase in collection platforms and combat air patrols. For example, the Air Force has substantially increased the number of combat air patrols that ISR collection platforms are performing in the U.S. Central Command theater of operations. Specifically, the number of combat air patrols flown by the Air Force's Predator and Reaper unmanned aircraft systems has increased from 13 to 36 since 2007. Moreover, in the 2010 Quadrennial Defense Review Report,10 DOD stated that it will continue to expand the Predator and Reaper combat air patrols to 65 by fiscal year 2015. This increase in data collection will also increase the burden on the Air Force's ground processing system, which processes, exploits, and disseminates the ISR information collected by these platforms.

C4ISR for Future Naval Strike Groups

C4ISR for Future Naval Strike Groups PDF Author: National Research Council
Publisher: National Academies Press
ISBN: 0309096006
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 300

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Book Description
The Navy has put forth a new construct for its strike forces that enables more effective forward deterrence and rapid response. A key aspect of this construct is the need for flexible, adaptive command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (C4ISR) systems. To assist development of this capability, the Navy asked the NRC to examine C4ISR for carrier, expeditionary, and strike and missile defense strike groups, and for expeditionary strike forces. This report provides an assessment of C4ISR capabilities for each type of strike group; recommendations for C4ISR architecture for use in major combat operations; promising technology trends; and an examination of organizational improvements that can enable the recommended architecture.

Capturing the Essential Factors in Reconnaissance and Surveillance Force Sizing and Mix

Capturing the Essential Factors in Reconnaissance and Surveillance Force Sizing and Mix PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
This documented briefing describes research in the Project AIR FORCE Reconnaissance, Surveillance, and Targeting project; it includes work relating to intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) mission analysis, technology assessment, and methodology/model development. The briefing also describes RAND's Reconnaissance and Surveillance Allocation Model (RSAM) that has been developed as part of the project. The model will be used in conjunction with a weapon allocation model to determine reconnaissance and surveillance requirements for attacking ground targets through an entire campaign. By varying the campaign plan and the ISR option packages in RSAM, tradeoff studies can determine the best types and required numbers of sensors and platforms. The project is conducted within the Force Modernization and Employment Program of Project AIR FORCE. It is sponsored by the Directorate of Operational Requirements.

Strategy for Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) - Experience with U-2 Spy Aircraft in Iraq Searching for IEDs, Afghanistan War, Obstacles to ISR Integration, Battlefield Impact

Strategy for Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) - Experience with U-2 Spy Aircraft in Iraq Searching for IEDs, Afghanistan War, Obstacles to ISR Integration, Battlefield Impact PDF Author: U. S. Military
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781521394380
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 78

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Book Description
This provocative paper draws upon the U.S. experiences in Iraq and Afghanistan to highlight key lessons for integrating intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) operations into military campaigns and major operations. The U.S. military's adherence to a Cold War-era collection management doctrine creates obstacles for ISR integration. This system of managing competing requirements as a basis for ISR operations has proven ineffective repeatedly in military operations due to the emphasis on collection statistics that do not account for operational realities. In the Information Age, strategy has never been more difficult or more important. Military campaigning is now a struggle among multiple hyper-connected groups to learn and influence faster than others. Because tactical actions increasingly have strategic consequences, military forces must anticipate how their actions could influence groups and how the actions of others could influence those same groups. Generating relevant intelligence has become increasingly difficult, as the demands for both precise action and force protection multiply. Modern technology simultaneously challenges and enables intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) operations. It provides a direct connection between analysts and consumers separated by thousands of miles but leads to ever-changing sources and methods for coping with complex operating environments and compressed decision cycles. In the last 10 years, numerous reports have highlighted many obstacles to the integration of ISR in military campaigns and major operations. The root cause of these difficulties is adherence to a centralized Cold War collection management doctrine focused on production rather than goals and objec-tives.4 This Industrial Age paradigm is not agile enough to meet the challenges of military operations in the Information Age. A strategy-oriented approach that balances ISR ends, ways, and means will more effectively meet commanders' needs and expectations.