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Advanced, air deliverable Unattended ground Sensors
are currently developed by Textron Systems for a joint US Air
Force and Marine Corps program. Such sensors will be valuable in
the shortening of the kill chain to defeat time-critical targets.
Designated Advanced Remote Ground Unattended Sensor (ARGUS) /
Advanced Air Delivered Sensor (AADS), these sensors will provide
deep-look ground surveillance capability that could be integrated
into the overall Battle Management Command and Control
architecture.
ARGUS/AADS provides unattended “on the ground” sensing capability
detecting, identifying and reporting on enemy activity within
designated areas deep in enemy territory, in Near-Real-Time (NRT).
The ARGUS program is sponsored by the USAF Intelligence,
Surveillance and Reconnaissance Systems Program Office, Hanscom
AFB while the USMC sponsors AADS. Textron Systems is the team
leader of this demonstration program, along with teaming partners
Northrop Grumman. The system will comprise air-deployed and
hand-emplaced sensors. The air delivered unit will be ejected from
the aircraft, with fins deployed to stabilize the sensor in
flight. Upon impact with the ground, these fins also act as
brakes, leaving only the sensor above ground. Once positioned, the
sensor is ready to detect, classify, and track targets using its
acoustic and seismic sensors.
Each sensor unit will be equipped with a sensor
suite, software applications to manage the sensors, sensor signal
processor, two-way satellite communications transceiver, storage
device, Global Positioning System (GPS) and battery power supply.
The sensors are utilizing satellite communications communicating
between the deployed sensor and the data processing center. ARGUS/AADS
will be able to cross-cue other Intelligence, Surveillance and
Reconnaissance (ISR) assets while activity occurs, allows theater
commanders to recognize the threat and direct forces to intervene. |
