US Army researching enhanced lethality for future aircraft.

As the U.S. Army progresses with its large-scale aircraft modernization initiatives, researchers are developing a capability to enable greater lethality by integrating automated scanning and detection of enemy targets. Dan Lafontaine, DEVCOM C5ISR Center Public Affairs, reports.

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The U.S. Army is developing Full-Spectrum Targeting technology, some of which have been integrated into a flyable technology demonstrator turret mounted on a UH-60 Black Hawk, as shown at Experimentation Demonstration Gateway Event (EDGE) 21 in May 2021. (Picture source: U.S. Army)

The Full-Spectrum Targeting (FST) program aims to advance next-generation sensor technology to provide the aircrew with the standoff distance and speed to react faster than the opponent. Army Futures Command (AFC) is leading the research and development effort with the Future Vertical Lift Cross-Functional Team.

The Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C5ISR) Center — a component of AFC’s Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM) — is developing this critical sensor technology. Some aspects have already been integrated into demonstration equipment, as shown at Experimentation Demonstration Gateway Event (EDGE) 21 — a precursor to Project Convergence 21 in the fall. A Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk served as the test surrogate for the Army’s Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA).

“This system will transform the weapons officer’s viewpoint from a soda straw to a wide-angle, high-definition view of the whole battlefield,” said Dr. Brian Thomas, chief of C5ISR Center’s Unmanned and Fixed Wing Branch.

The system’s automated scan-and-detect algorithms reduce operator workload by searching a defined region in front of the aircraft to detect enemy positions, according to Thomas. This automation allows the aviator to act as a mission commander. The key objective is to enable crew members to see significantly farther than current reconnaissance aircraft.

Paul Price, chief of C5ISR Center’s Aviation Branch and Army Aviation Hall of Fame member, said sensor advancements will be life-saving for the aircraft and crew as it reduces the time for the aviator to figure out who’s who on the battlefield.

“This emerging sensors technology will significantly reduce the time to put fire on targets by identifying the threat and sending images of potential enemies directly to weapon systems,” Price said. “This allows the attack aviator to engage the enemy almost simultaneously as the imagery becomes available.”

Participation in EDGE 21 enabled the Center’s research team to gauge the performance of a number of key technologies that are part of the program in an operationally realistic environment.

The FST-equipped Black Hawk escorted an air assault mission composed of three Black Hawks with 82nd Airborne Division paratroopers. While en route, a small unmanned aircraft detected a potential threat. The FST-quipped aircraft was dispatched and used its long-range sensor to identify the target, provide coordinates and an image to the network to facilitate the target's elimination.

The air assault mission was then diverted to a safe route. After neutralizing the threat, the FST-equipped aircraft proceeded to the landing zone and performed overwatch while the paratroopers dismounted and claimed the objective.

Thomas said C5ISR Center’s expertise in sensors enables scientists and engineers to mature R&D into capabilities that can be tactically demonstrated at events such as EDGE 21. The FST program includes research for an all-weather, day-and-night targeting capability as well as technologies that enable the detection of concealed targets and discrimination of decoys.

Researchers are tied to the aviation user and acquisition communities to understand emerging needs and then invest resources appropriately, according to Thomas. The Center is working closely to transition these technologies to Project Manager FARA. “The C5ISR Center, with our partners, is defining what is possible from a technical perspective in support of the Army’s future aircraft,” Thomas said. “These efforts will help ensure greater lethality and survivability for our aircrews.”