Combat Identification Technology

Non-cooperative combat identification (CID) employs multiple sensing technologies and signal processing techniques designed to extract discriminating features from a battlespace entity (target). Specifically designed algorithms compare those extracted features to a tailored database to identify those targets. This is the primary method for advanced CID development and the key enabler for aiding Air Force kill-chains in denied access environments. These technologies include: (A) non-cooperative Air Target Identification (ATID) technologies, (B) non-cooperative Ground Target Identification (GTID) technologies, and (C) Studies evaluating potential new technologies. ATID development focuses on platform-centric CID technologies that enhance capability to determine enemy air threats. A primary area of focus is the development/implementation of the government-owned joint standard for CID, Joint Multi-platform Advanced Combat identification (JMAC) architecture shared/implemented by Army, Air Force, Navy, and MDA; it fuses multiple sensors to provide a robust, advanced CID solution aimed at the discovery/generation of CID features from fielded sensors. JMAC is one of three key technologies in the Missile Defense Agency's Joint Tactical Integrated Fire Control (JTIFC) Architecture, as such it is being adopted for homeland defense. Other areas of focus include combat identification technologies that broaden the application of CID across air platforms utilizing larger air-to-air kill-webs planned for employment by the Air Force and utilize assets in unmanned aerial systems and space to improve and enable CID in future threat air engagements. GTID development focuses on platform-centric CID technologies that enhance capability to determine priority enemy ground threat systems (both offensive and defensive systems). Primary areas of focus include transitioning CID capability for denied access environments using passive radio frequency and electronic warfare information, integrating radio-based technologies into the cockpit to increase confidence of target identification and situational awareness as well as reduce fratricides, and to demonstrate weapon-based combat identification back to the launch platform using a communication link from that launched weapon.

The Database thrust area is designed to remove the "hard-coded”, static, identification (ID) parameters (typically updated every 4-5 years) from the host platform's sensor(s) and replace them with parameterized values that are more easily and rapidly updated when new intelligence inputs come available. This allows maximum flexibility to tailor each aircraft's Combat Identification (CID) database(s) based on assigned theater of operation, threat country of interest, and assigned mission tasks. This project primarily consists of four objectives: A) determining a sensor's capability to capture target features for CID, B) designing and developing a database to contain the CID features identified in Objective A, C) developing techniques to generate the requisite features, and D) providing CID features developed from measured or modeled data.

Cooperative Combat Identification (CID) investigates technologies required to rapidly identify friendly platforms. The program develops, integrates and evaluates technologies that provide Air Force platforms with a means of positively identifying an air or ground platform as a friendly, via active or passive cooperative identification capabilities. This thrust area includes non-traditional cooperative approaches, as well as initial work on a follow-on cooperative system advancing beyond Identification Friend or Foe (IFF - Mode 5) previously developed and transitioned by this Program. Funding for initial studies related on the next generation IFF (potentially labeled Mode 6) began in FY 2023.