Sverdrup Technology Inc., provided technical, engineering, and analytical support for a limited development test and evaluation (DT&E) of the advanced tactical air reconnaissance system (ATARS) at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. The 46th Electronic Combat Test Squadron, reconnaissance and imaging sensors test flight (46 ECTS/OGER) conducted the test from 12 February to 4 October 1993. This paper presents an overview of the sensor performance test results from this limited DT&E. Detailed results are presented in the U.S. Air Force Development Test Center technical report.

The U.S. Navy's desire to collect target imagery at long standoff ranges to protect aircrews from hostile ground fire has established a need for a long range standoff digital reconnaissance system capable of real-time data linking and rapid exploitation and dissemination via ground based digital imagery processing. The infrared/electro-optical-long range oblique photography system (IR/EO-LOROPS) currently under development by the Navy is intended to meet this need. The IR/EO-LOROPS will be a long range standoff, dual band, digital reconnaissance system, designed primarily for use on the F/A-18D reconnaissance capable (RC) aircraft. The IR/EO-LOROPS will be an upgraded version of the U.S. Air Force electro-optical-long range oblique photography system (EO-LOROPS). The EO-LOROPS is a visible waveband sensor system. The IR/EO-LOROPS will be a dual-band wavelength sensor operating in the visible and IR wavebands. The Air Force EO-LOROPS is installed in the RF-4C aircraft. The contract between the Navy and the prime contractor, Loral Fairchild Systems (LFS), requires LFS to design and build a pod suitable for carriage on the center line station of the F/A-18D reconnaissance capable (RC) aircraft, that will house and integrate either the IR/EO-LOROPS or EO-LOROPS sensor and its ancillary electronics. The contract also requires LFS to successfully demonstrate the capability to acquire and record standoff imagery. A data link (DL) capability is being incorporated in the design.

The development of a new generation reconnaissance pod for the German Air Force started in 1994. The pod will be carried on the centerline station of the IDS Tornado. The pod contains two optical, aerial film cameras and one infrared linescanner with digital tape recording for eg. on-board image exploitation. Deutsche Aerospace AG (DASA) is the prime contractor for the overall reconnaissance program which includes a ground exploitation system. The delivery of the first series system is scheduled for 1998.

A coherent lidar system based on a 3W cw CO₂ laser has been installed on an aircraft positioned to look forward and down. A monostatic optical geometry is employed and the optical system incorporates a scanning mechanism that generates a line scan in the horizontal plane perpendicular to the aircraft. This scan pattern, coupled with the aircraft motion, produces a 2D coverage of the ground. The laser reflections from terrain features are collected and 2D images of the ground generated based on the amplitude of the return signals. A flight program has been conducted and active images of a range of natural terrain and man made objects collected. This paper describes the coherent laser system, its aircraft installation, signal processing, and results obtained from the flight trial program.

The realignment of international powers, and the formation of new nations has resulted in increasing worldwide concern over border security, an expanding refugee problem, protection of fishery and mineral areas, and smuggling of all types. The focus on military services, to protect or defend against these threats of vital, national interest, is shifting to other government agencies and even commercial contractors to apply innovative and cost effective solutions. Previously, airborne surveillance and reconnaissance platforms have been large, mission dedicated military aircraft. The time has arrived for a smaller, more efficient, and more effective airborne capability. This paper briefly outlines a system of systems approach that smaller nations can afford to incorporate in their budgets, while greatly expanding their surveillance capability. The characteristics of specific cameras and sensors are purposely not addressed, so the emphasis can be placed on the integration of multiple sensors and capabilities.

In 1992, the U.S. Navy initiated Project Radiant Outlaw, an advanced technology demonstration (ATD) project to demonstrate long range non-cooperative identification (NCID) of airborne and surface targets. The concept utilizes a ruggedized, compact airborne sensor package containing a stable laser radar (LADAR) operating in low probability of intercept mode and a shared aperture starring focal plane array mid-wave (3.8 to 4.5 micrometers ) infrared sensor. This sensor package is capable of multiple modes of identification. The processor utilizes adaptive ASW (anti-submarine warfare) acoustic processor technology developed by the Navy. The radiant outlaw sensor package, along with its processor, is capable of various methods of identification as follows: (1) target skin vibration or (mu) -Doppler signature, (2) range profiling, (3) high resolution infrared, and (4) pixel registered passive infrared and active 3-D LADAR imaging. This paper describes the radiant outlaw concept along with its various modes of identification. The risks associated with long range NCID demonstration are discussed and the risk reduction program described. Accomplishments to date including the aspect independent automatic target recognition (ATR) demonstration are described. Finally, various concepts for transition are discussed.

An overview of the joint tactical unmanned aerial vehicle program.

Low-cost unmanned aerial vehicle technology has continuously evolved since its development in the early 1980s. As these systems have matured, they have proven to be dependable, safe, cost effective alternatives for applications ideally suited for UAVs. This paper discusses the evolution of low-cost UAV systems and describes the performance capabilities of a typical low-cost UAV system.

In 1933, aerial cameras had been developed that worked essentially as they do today. Aerial surveys were made, stereo plotters produced maps, and the science of photogrammetry was advancing. However, aircraft development had a long way to go before the SR-71 came along. Over the years, the general complexity of taking photographs from above increased by orders of magnitude. A 1933 British flight in two bi-wing aircraft over Mount Everest on an aerial survey mission is compared to a 1984 Space Shuttle flight dedicated to aerial, or more accurately, space photography. The comparison leads to the conclusion that in exploration, it is important that people involved must be given latitude to exercise self-initiative if we are to be successful in the exploration of the solar system and galaxy.

During recent years, in order to meet increased demands for aerial surveillance data and due to decreased availability of support from military tactical reconnaissance organizations, many state and federal agencies have begun to expand their organic reconnaissance capabilities. Agencies have attempted to minimize system costs by procuring excess military sensors, only to find that adaptation of existing military sensor control and data annotation systems, or development of application specific systems, is cost prohibitive. One proposed solution to this dilemma, as presented within this paper, is user integrated reconnaissance systems which can include excess military sensors, but which also make extensive use of cost effective commercially procurable reconnaissance management system (RMS) components.

Experiments with various methods of training for the operators of modern image exploitation work stations have been conducted. Based on a number of years of instructional experience, primarily but not exclusively with college students, a recommended training procedure is outlined. At the core of this procedure are three essential tools: the flow diagram for processing steps, the demonstration of the entire process for the group, and the use of a session log as a script for the beginner.

Recon/Optical, Inc. (ROI) has developed the CA-260 Advanced Development E-O Framing Camera specifically to provide near-photographic quality images while enhancing the survivability of the tactical reconnaissance platforms at low to medium altitudes. The CA-260, mounted in a T-33 jet trainer, completed three successful engineering flight tests over the Edwards AFB test range on July 17 - 31, 1993. The flight tests were part of ROI's research and development program to develop E-O framing camera technology. These tests marked a major milestone in the program and proved that an E-O framing camera can successfully perform tactical reconnaissance missions. This paper presents the details of the engineering flight tests performed at Mojave, Calif. By way of introduction, the concept of E-O framing tactical reconnaissance and its advantages in terms of aircraft survivability are reviewed. The purpose, equipment configuration, mission specifics and flight summaries are discussed. Examples of flight test imagery are presented with some analysis of the CA-260's performance.

A real-time digital airborne camera system has been designed and implemented for real-time environmental and agricultural monitoring (RTEAM). The RTEAM digital airborne camera system (RDACS) is composed of digital CCD video cameras, image frame grabber boards, a global positioning system (GPS), computer hardware and software. The goal of the RDACs design and implementation is to use off-the-shelf products to build an affordable multispectral sensor system, which can be used to acquire real-time multispectral digital images for agricultural and environmental monitoring. Three digital CCD cameras with different filters are synchronized to acquire multispectral images of the same target. Digital image acquisition and real-time data archiving are implemented. A GPS device is used to keep track of image positions along with time. In addition, real-time image marking is implemented to designate the frames of targets during a mission. Digital images are directly retrieved at a ground station according to the GPS locations or frame marks. The images are converted into various formats for analysis using commercial image processing software packages. Precise band-to-band image registration is performed using software at the ground station.

The enhanced tactical radar correlator (ETRAC) system is under development at Westinghouse Electric Corporation for the Army Space Program Office (ASPO). ETRAC is a real-time synthetic aperture radar (SAR) processing system that provides tactical IMINT to the corps commander. It features an open architecture comprised of ruggedized commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS), UNIX based workstations and processors. The architecture features the DoD common SAR processor (CSP), a multisensor computing platform to accommodate a variety of current and future imaging needs. ETRAC's principal functions include: (1) Mission planning and control -- ETRAC provides mission planning and control for the U-2R and ASARS-2 sensor, including capability for auto replanning, retasking, and immediate spot. (2) Image formation -- the image formation processor (IFP) provides the CPU intensive processing capability to produce real-time imagery for all ASARS imaging modes of operation. (3) Image exploitation -- two exploitation workstations are provided for first-phase image exploitation, manipulation, and annotation. Products include INTEL reports, annotated NITF SID imagery, high resolution hard copy prints and targeting data. ETRAC is transportable via two C-130 aircraft, with autonomous drive on/off capability for high mobility. Other autonomous capabilities include rapid setup/tear down, extended stand-alone support, internal environmental control units (ECUs) and power generation. ETRAC's mission is to provide the Army field commander with accurate, reliable, and timely imagery intelligence derived from collections made by the ASARS-2 sensor, located on-board the U-2R aircraft. To accomplish this mission, ETRAC receives video phase history (VPH) directly from the U-2R aircraft and converts it in real time into soft copy imagery for immediate exploitation and dissemination to the tactical users.

The tactical airborne digital camera system (TADCS) integrates the laptop imagery transmission system (LITE) with the DCS-100 digital camera system (DCS) to provide near real-time reconnaissance imagery from the rear cockpit of the F-14A aircraft, as well as from a hand-held sensor in the P-3 platform.

A 2048 X 96 time-delay and integration (TDI) CCD image sensor has been designed which has been optimized for the high speed (13,000 lines/s) scanning typically found in airborne reconnaissance. The image sensor incorporates an imaging area size selection mechanism which, in conjunction with the TDI architecture, extends the response of the sensor over a wide range of incident light intensities. At high signal levels as found in airborne reconnaissance, the dynamic range of the output signal is limited by shot noise of the image rather than device noise. The pixel spacing is 13 micrometers , giving the sensor excellent spatial resolution. The MTF of the sensor at the Nyquist frequency is 50%. The device is fabricated using an NMOS process using three polysilicon layers and buried channel CCD registers to reduce image lag.

Advances in capabilities of reconnaissance equipment such as sensors, tape recorders, and data links have dictated the need for a centralized manager of the airborne system. The sensor data management subsystem (SDMS) described performs the airborne sensor system management tasks while maintaining a flexible, scaleable, and modular architecture. These tasks include image data processing, auxiliary data processing, data compression, and data routing and packetizing as required to interfaces between sensors, tape recorders, data links, and cockpit displays. This architecture provides easy configuration of equipment to meet requirements for a variety of applications and sensor types. In addition, the architecture supports easy reconfiguration for a given application as sensors, tape recorders, etc. change.

Data processing requirements for automated reconnaissance target acquisition for F-14 aircraft with tactical air reconnaissance pod system (TARPS) capability is discussed. Low-cost upgrades to an existing, flight-proven reconnaissance equipment controller are described. The resulting system is a pre-flight programmable equipment controller and data annotation driver for EO and film based reconnaissance sensors.

Functions that typically perform image compression are used to improve and simplify the accuracy of automated target detection. Since image compression functions are used to perform this target detection, fast (real time speed) target detection hardware already exists. The accuracy improvements are demonstrated to (1) reduce the target misclassification rate (i.e., false alarm rate) and (2) enhance the detection of low contrast or reduced signature targets. This paper specifically addresses pixel by pixel template matching for multi-spectral imagery, but a previous UNISYS paper performed an analogous function for radar and monochrome imagery using spacial template matching.

The tactical airborne reconnaissance pod system (TARPS), flown on the U.S. Navy's F-14 Tomcat, is the primary source of tactical photographic imagery for America's armed forces today. Designed to be a short-term, interim system it has recently received both sensor and pod upgrades to maintain its effectiveness well past the year 2000 and provide a new baseline for future growth.

The medium altitude endurance unmanned air vehicle (MAE UAV) program (formerly the tactical endurance TE UAV) is a new effort initiated by the Department of Defense to develop a ground launched UAV that can fly out 500 miles, remain on station for 24 hours, and return. It will transmit high resolution optical, infrared, and synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images of well-defended target areas through satellite links. It will provide near-real-time, releasable, low cost/low risk surveillance, targeting and damage assessment complementary to that of satellites and manned aircraft. The paper describes specific objectives of the MAE UAV program (deliverables and schedule) and the program's unique position as one of several programs to streamline the acquisition process under the cognizance of the newly established Airborne Reconnaissance Office. I discuss the system requirements and operational concept and describe the technical capabilities and characteristics of the major subsystems (airframe, propulsion, navigation, sensors, communication links, ground station, etc.) in some detail.

Target truth data collected during field tests are extremely important in characterizing the performance of electro-optical (EO) sensor systems. Target truth, scene characterization, and meteorological data are all used to document the specific conditions of test during the evaluation of a sensor. These data are often used to support the determination of specification compliance or noncompliance for a candidate sensor system. This paper describes the method used to collect airborne target truth data in support of the United States Air Force limited development test and evaluation (DT&E) of the Advanced Tactical Air Reconnaissance System (ATARS).

The effect of linear image motion and high frequency vibrations on human performance for target acquisition is considered. Two clutter metrics, one local and the other global, are combined to one metric of signal-to-clutter ratio (SCR). The SCR is used as a parameter in the model for actual target acquisition results. Two experiments involving human observers are considered. A static experiment is developed with spatial filters representing image motion, and a dynamic experiment is described which imitates the operation of a scanning camera with a constant velocity. It appears from both experiments that image motion increases the detection time of a target by the observer. As the complexity of the original image increases, detection time is more affected, increasing more rapidly with blur radius in the first experiment and with velocity in the second experiment.

For a number of applications in which an enhanced red sensitivity is required, like e.g., night vision, surveillance, laser-induced fluorescence and non-destructive testing, DEP has developed a very sensitive second generation image intensifier equipped with a Super-S25 photocathode which is called the super generation image intensifier. In this paper the performance of the super generation tube is discussed in terms of photocathode sensitivity, signal-to-noise ratio, resolution, life expectancy and uniformity. A comparison is made with image intensifiers of the third generation. Some striking differences are presented.