DRAFT
5.1 Integrated Airborne Imagery Architecture
5.2 Joint Airborne MASINT Architecture
5.3 MASINT Ground/Surface System Architecture
5.4 Distributed Common Ground/Surface System Architecture
5.5 Integrated Communications Architecture
This proposed initiative would focus on the IMINT front-end and high-performance processing functions defined in the ARITA FRM. An integrated airborne imagery architecture (similar to JASA) would enable greater flexibility in equipping the airborne reconnaissance fleet through commonality and enhanced interoperability. For example, sensor suites could be highly interchangeable among multiple platforms and more tightly integrated with other subsystems to beneficially affect inter-system cross cueing. In this architecture, planned sensor suites (IR, EO, SAR, SAR/MTI, MSI, and video) would be modular and interoperable with existing and planned airborne platforms. Emphasis would be placed on all-weather platform and sensor capabilities with room for specialized platforms and sensors as required. The common imagery ground/surface systems would be able to process, exploit, and report on imagery and imagery-derived information irrespective of sensor or platform type. Workstations interconnected by local or wide area networks would operate in such a manner that common routines would be transparent for cross-service users, while accommodating specialized procedures for mission specific needs. The common, interoperable, modular, and scaleable elements of this architecture would provide the highest degree of flexibility needed to support the warfighter in unpredictable future mission scenarios.
The CIO-chaired Video Working Group (VWG) was formed in July 1995 to define standards for video imagery data formats, metadata formats and compression algorithms, and address overall end-to-end quality standards. A VWG subgroup was formed in February 96 to analyze current tasking, reporting, exploitation, and dissemination system requirements for video metadata. The metadata group is also actively engaged with CIO's Accelerated Architecture Acquisition Initiative (A3I) Program Office on archive and retrieval requirements for video metadata. The initial plan is to develop, in coordination with the DARO, minimum metadata standards for collection system(s) to provide with the video imagery by Fall 96, followed by a migration plan for enhancements to video metadata to reflect SPIA requirements.
The Joint Airborne MASINT Architecture is a new and much needed effort to define the overall architecture for airborne MASINT systems. It is organized around seven broadly defined MASINT functional areas of sensor systems:
SAR and Spectral overlap with the Airborne Imagery Architecture initiatives, and RF overlaps with the ongoing JASA development activities.
Traditional MASINT systems have been unique, stand alone systems that required extensive post processing and analysis to supply information of intelligence value. Now that MASINT technologies are rapidly maturing, much of this processing has become real-time and is often incorporated within the sensor sub-processing system for immediate use. In addition, MASINT has developed multiple sensor correlation systems to provide real-time target identification (automatic target recognition). These systems are quickly evolving to highly capable multiple-sensor "smart systems" that can provide identification and location coordinates to sensor-to-shooter systems. The Central MASINT Office (CMO) will be developing a flexible architecture over the next couple of years that will maximize interoperability through standard hardware and software interfaces that will streamline the integration of new MASINT systems as they come on line.
It is also CMO's intent to create standards for MASINT systems that allow for growth and technical innovation to reduce acquisition and training times, increase capability, and lower long-term costs. The key is to identify areas between systems that serve common functions and therefore, lend themselves to degrees of commonality and interoperability.
MASINT does not have any dedicated ground/surface systems at present. Instead, data is either processed in real-time on board the platform or it is recorded for non-real-time processing in laboratory facilities. Within the DARO Objective Architecture 2010, all ground processing and dissemination functions will be migrating towards the Distributed Common Ground Station (DCGS). MASINT will most likely evolve quickly towards the DCGS and immediately adopt the hardware and software configurations within this document. In the near term, MASINT systems will merge with SIGINT and IMINT where possible for ground processing. MASINT systems that are similar or common with the IMINT CIGSS architecture will adopt the CIGSS standards. CIGSS has a multi-INT processor function that is the main tie between the two disciplines. On the RF side, MASINT will leverage the JASA architecture established to develop common standards. The rest of the MASINT systems could eventually evolve to provide data through the Joint-STARS Common Ground Station and disseminate through GCCS/TIBS as the DCGS comes on line. The notional concept of a Common MASINT Ground/Surface System will require considerable effort to reach an effective near term solution with a migration strategy towards the eventual DCGS.
A migration strategy for IMINT, MASINT, SIGINT, and multi-intelligence ground/surface systems to the Distributed Common Ground/Surface System (DCGSS) is planned. The DCGSS evolution will reflect continuing commonality, interoperability, modularity, and scalability efforts. The DCGSS strategy and architecture will unify the subsystems and components in current stove-piped ground/surface systems. The CIGSS architecture and standards referenced in Section 2.2.2 is the first step in this strategy. The migration to DCGSS will introduce common imagery, SIGINT, and MASINT processors, field one scaleable and modular workstation type, develop one database system tailored, via software, to handle different mission requirements and multi-echelon needs, and provide common communications interfaces able to keep pace with developing C4I for the Warrior concepts and architectures.
The proposed integrated communications architecture would reflect ongoing initiatives to achieve interoperability through selection of standard message and data formats and signal waveforms for both collection and dissemination data links between ground, air and satellite systems. The communications architecture would also show the interrelationships of the following components:
Communications Infrastructure and Networks (IP Router Networks, Intelink,
GBS, etc.)
DRAFT