Sensors and Sensor Systems

Army, Oct 2004

Payloads for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are essential combat multipliers. The synthetic aperture radar/ground moving-target indicator (SAR/GMTI), the electro-optical/infrared with laser designator (EO/IR/LD) and laser light detection and ranging (LIDAR) are payloads for use on Future Combat System Class IV and extended range/multipurpose (ER/MP) UAVs. The SAR/GMTI is a multifunction radar that operates in an imaging (SAR) and a ground moving-target indicator mode. High-resolution imagery and GMTI data is processed on board the UAV and is data-linked to a ground station for exploitation. The payload's performance characteristics, including its size, weight and power, provide for a common payload solution for several unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). An early version of the SAR/GMTI payload is flown on the Army's I-GNAT UAV in support of OIF missions.

The EO/IR (electro-optic/infrared) payload is a lightweight reconnaissance, surveillance and target acquisition (RSTA) system designed to enhance the capabilities of the U.S. Army's FCS Class IVa unmanned aerial vehicle. This is an effort to develop a RSTA/countermine capability to provide a multimission-capable payload. It provides improved standoff distances and increased search rates for the Class IVa UAV, and addresses the need for increased target detection capability and improved target location accuracy. A non-developmental item EO/IR/LD payload is being pursued to meet the ER/MP UAV RSTA needs. A LIDAR payload is also currently in development that is a high-resolution imager that could provide 3-D terrain mapping capability for PCS and BR/MP UAVs. It is leveraging the rapid terrain visualization advanced concept technology demonstration conducted by the Joint Precision Strike Demonstration Office. It is being downsized and integrated into the Hunter UAV and will complete flight testing during FY 2005.

The Future Combat System (FCS) Unattended Ground Sensors (UGS) will provide a variety of remote sensing capabilities intended to enhance the Future Force commander's intelligence picture. As an integral component of the PCS layered sensor network, the remotely deployable UGS will provide enhanced threat warning, situational awareness and force protection in both tactical and urban environments for extended periods. The sensor family will be self-webbing, self-healing and network-capable for target detection, location, tracking and identification.

The PCS UGS program is divided into two major subgroups of sensing systems: tactical UGS (T-UGS), which includes intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) UGS and chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) UGS; and urban-UGS (U-UCS), also known as urban MOUT (military operations in urban terrain) advanced sensor system (UMASS).

The ISR UGS will have modular and tailorable groups of sensors using multiple ground-sensing technologies. A UGS field will include both low-cost, expendable, multimode sensors for target detection, location and classification, and an imaging capability for target identification. A sensor field will also include a gateway node, which will provide sensor fusion and a long-haul communications capability for transmitting target or other information back to a remote operator and/or the common operating picture (COP) through the PCS unit of action network. They can be used to perform various mission tasks including perimeter defense, surveillance, target acquisition and situational awareness, which includes chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) early warning.