Revolutionizing Army ISR Operations with Cutting-Edge Technologies

The Army is one of the most technologically advanced organizations in the world. Every year, the U.S. Army spends billions of dollars on IT, software, and hardware for communication, data management, and everything in between. In short, the U.S. The Army is very dedicated to technical development and enhancement, and their electronic warfare system apparatus is a major part of this. Intel professionals in the Army are tasked with providing the Commanding General with timely information for the battlefield, so the exploitation system in use has to be on point. 

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We’re going to walk through the process that the Army is using to modernize their intelligence processes to remain at the top of the food chain. 

Modernizing Army Intelligence Surveillance And Reconnaissance

The U.S. Army is modernizing its intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities to provide a “deep sensing” capability to future warfighters. Historically speaking, intelligence is the factor that determines the direction of the victory. These assets are immeasurably important, but they are also expensive and make up the minority (the vast minority, really) of aviation assets in the Army. 

The Army is investing in advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence, to enhance its ISR capabilities and improve situational awareness. As they say, if you aren’t learning to utilize AI now, you are behind. It is hard to imagine that this isn’t just as true for the defense industry mission as it is for the rest of the world. 

The modernization effort is focused on providing the Army with increased range, speed, endurance, and aerial ISR depth. We have talked in detail about the Army’s efforts to field a replacement for the venerable RC-12X Guardrail. The replacement came in the form of a commercial off the shelf jet, with the Leidos ARTEMIS coming online as the replacement. 

The ARTEMIS fleet will eventually replace the RC-12 fleet, which are now at over five decades of continuous service. ARTEMIS is a fascinating program that probably illustrates how the future of military contracts might look for procurement and acquisitions. Defense is often stymied in improvements because they are wedded to old equipment that needs replacement but because of department policies or fiscal year constraints (and so on), sometimes archaic gear soldiers on.

But ARTEMIS is owned and operated by a private contractor, Leidos. The Army will never own these aircraft, even though it will be Army aircrews who fly them. All maintenance is handled through Leidos, from basic line maintenance to extensive depot-level repairs and inspections. 

The modernization effort is also focused on improving the Army’s ability to collect and process intelligence data. The RC-12 Guardrail is a key component of the Army's aerial intelligence capabilities, providing signals intelligence and communications intelligence with its sophisticated sensors. But again, it is getting old. There comes a point in time when machinery has run its course through a useful lifecycle and is no longer the viable option it was. The RC-12 has been a wonderful asset, but it is just that: a “has been.” In the fleet, it is becoming increasingly hard to find usable parts to keep these aircraft in the air. 

Integrating Advanced Technologies

The Army is integrating advanced technologies, including electronic warfare systems, into its ISR capabilities. The Army is also investing in long-range precision fires and airborne reconnaissance systems to enhance its ISR capabilities.

ARTEMIS is the answer to this. ISR is very different between the branches of service. Each branch’s ISR assets are mostly tailored to the missions of that branch. Air Force ISR assets are engineered for Air Force threats and missions. Army ISR assets are geared to provide intelligence on the threats that impact ground forces. ARTEMIS provides a much clearer overall view for targeting long range precision fires, a mission that has previously not existed. Here are a few of the things that the Army is working on with next-generation ISR assets:

  • The integration of advanced technologies is focused on improving the Army’s ability to detect and respond to threats in real-time.
  • The Army is working with the Program Executive Office to acquire payloads, including radars, electronic intelligence, and communications intelligence sensors.
  • The integration of advanced technologies is also focused on improving the Army’s ability to conduct electronic warfare.
  • Leidos ARTEMIS, an advanced ISR platform, is being utilized to enhance the Army's reconnaissance systems by providing real-time data and intelligence exploitation.

Ensuring Ethical Use of Advanced Technologies

One of the most sensitive topics in the military is ethical use of weaponry. There are major concerns globally about the use of advanced technologies in both military systems and intelligence. 

The Army is ensuring the ethical use of advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence, in its ISR capabilities. But what does this mean? How can AI be used ethically on the battlefield? Here are few ways:

  1. The ethical integration of AI, meaning that all AI systems are designed and used in ways that align with the moral and legal standards of modern warfare. 
  2. AI will only be used to support decision making processes by the Commanding General and his supporting staff, and never to replace it. 
  3. Avoiding misuse and overreliance on AI technology. AI is not human, and it will make mistakes. It also has a tendency to produce false or misleading outputs, which are very dangerous when artillery is involved. 

There are more ethical issues that have to be dealt with, but these are a few of the most important. 

The Army is applying ethical principles to AI algorithms and ensuring that technology is never responsible for pulling the trigger, but rather aiding humans’ decision-making processes.

  • The Army is working to build trust in AI systems by providing hypothetical examples and potential use cases for how AI can aid analysts.
  • The Deputy Chief of the Army is overseeing the development and deployment of advanced ISR systems, including the HADES program.

HADES ISR Program

The HADES ISR program is a cutting-edge initiative focused on enhancing the Army's intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities. HADES was not an aircraft itself but the initiative to find and fund the new ISR aircraft. 

HADES integrates advanced technologies and sensors to provide comprehensive intelligence data and situational awareness. The program supports the Army's ISR modernization strategy by offering improved reconnaissance and target acquisition capabilities, and HADES plays a very important role in the Army's ability to conduct deep sensing operations and deliver actionable intelligence to commanders. For what?

Largely target acquisition, surveillance, and of course, the dissemination of targeting information for combatant commands.  

Leidos ARTEMIS ISR Platform

This is the final result of the HADES program initiative. 

We’ve talked at length about the ARTEMIS mission, aircraft, and even the mission profile but it bears repeating.  The Leidos ARTEMIS is a state-of-the-art ISR platform that enhances the Army's reconnaissance capabilities. Using what is basically a standard Bombardier Challenger 6500, ARTEMIS provides real-time intelligence data, enabling rapid decision-making and situational awareness. 

This aircraft is adapted with sensor suites and an electronic warfare system that is also modular. Within a few hours, the sensors can be removed and seating installed for the aircraft be used for VIP transport. 

The platform is equipped with advanced sensors that improve the Army's ability to conduct airborne reconnaissance and target acquisition. ARTEMIS supports the Army's ISR modernization strategy by integrating seamlessly with other ISR systems and technologies.

RC-12 Guardrail ISR Aircraft

The RC-12 Guardrail is a critical component of the Army's aerial intelligence capabilities, and has been serving nobly in this role for over five decades. Unfortunately, it has reached the end of its lifecycle and is now becoming dependent on cannibalization tactics to keep the rest of the fleet in the air. 

Guardrail aircraft provide signals intelligence and communications intelligence through a sophisticated sensor suite, although these are now quite outdated and are constantly short of the parts needed to operate and function properly. 

The Guardrail enhances the Army's ability to conduct deep sensing and surveillance over long distances, but ARTEMIS will do this and more, flying at nearly twice the altitude and much faster. Since it is much faster, and also has a longer loiter duration, the ARTEMIS will cover about twice the area of the current Guardrail. And again, it can scan a much larger geographical area due to operating much higher. 

With all of that said, the aircraft plays a vital role in supporting the Army's ISR operations by delivering actionable intelligence to commanders and will continue to provide valuable information until it is completely retired. 

Greenwood Parts Procurement For the Future of ISR

The face of Army ISR is changing, and we are here for it. The RC-12 has served longer than we have been in business, and we will continue serving this community until it has been retired. Whether Guardrail or ARTEMIS, Greenwood Aerospace will give you the same great level of service you’ve come to expect from us for the past forty years.