Advanced Technology and Sensors

The NGS-RR project is a platform-agile suite of sensor and software development and demonstration technologies designed to maximize flexibility and capability for an ever-changing scale of ISR missions. NGS-RR furthers maturation and risk reduction of select technologies initiated under I&TS and other low TRL maturation efforts culminating in operational prototype demonstrations. The power behind the NGS-RR project is an open architecture system design that enables rapid third-party software and line replaceable unit insertion/replacement. NGS-RR implements foundational sensor development technologies including the MEDUSA flight demonstration platform, and the AURORA software environment and repository. NGS-RR incorporates all of the metrics learned through the flight demonstrations into the Whole-system Analysis & Simulation Portal (WASP), a web-based digital engineering catalog and analysis tool launching on JWICS in FY26. In FY 2027, NGS-RR will continue flight testing maturing ATRs and fully integrated podded payloads, integration of maturation of NAVAIR algorithms, and other maritime automated target recognition algorithms and support collaborative teaming demonstrations. Demonstrations include, but are not limited to, capabilities developed with funding in the I&TS project, Airborne SIGINT Enterprise PE (0304260F), and Airborne Reconnaissance Systems (ARS) PE (0305296F). Additionally, Resolute Sentry transitioned from the AF Research Laboratory to NGS-RR for technical maturation and integration into the first operational platform in FY 2026. Resolute Sentry is an AI-driven, multi-platform, sense-making tool for predictive analytics and orchestration at the tactical edge. It provides real-time, high-quality detection, identification and tracking to close kill chains and predict adversary activity. The effort delivers a platform-agnostic, edge-hostable software solution to ingest and fuse multi-INT data across multiple platforms at the tactical edge. The data will then be used to generate actionable information on the highly contested environment for Blue Force commanders and national decision making. Resolute Sentry will execute in ATS from FY 2026 to FY 2027, then will transition to ARS PE (0305206F) in FY 2028.

The I&TS project matures low TRL sensors and processing capabilities to rapidly fill current GEOINT sensing capability gaps. To ensure alignment with Congressional intent, urgent CCMD requirements, and departmental priorities, the Air Force (AF) established a Headquarters level working group to guide, prioritize, and synchronize these enterprise sensor technology investments. The GEOINT Capabilities Working Group (GCWG) reviews developmental technologies in the fourth quarter of each FY to approve and prioritize efforts for the following year. The Program Office is specifically structured to rapidly initiate efforts in the execution year to expedite technical maturation and delivery to operational platforms at the speed of technology. In FY 2025, I&TS transitioned 3 efforts (GMTI mode, AIR, RUBBER DUCKIE) to an OAFP. In FY 2026, I&TS will complete development of 2 FY 2024 efforts (BB8, Collaborative Teaming), continue development of 1 FY 2025 effort (ATRIUM) and begin 4 new efforts (TALON CEREBRAL, AIR for SAR, ABBA, and RESOLUTE MINIONS). Details of the FY 2026 efforts are available upon request at the appropriate classification levels. In FY 2027, I&TS will use remaining funds to complete all ongoing efforts. I&TS project funds are distributed to efforts based on the development priorities established by the GCWG. The Program Office initiates efforts based on priority as Budget Authority is released in the execution year. If funding is made available, GCWG selected efforts based on the identified focus areas, transition partners, and available budget will be scheduled. These efforts will be selected in July of FY 2026. The FY 2026 focus areas are: increase cooperative sense-making capabilities for fielded sensors to extend range, improve fidelity, reduce bandwidth, and reduce latency to end users; develop scalable, modular, meshed, and low Size, Weight, Power, and Cost (SWaP-C) sensors that meet current Department and IC interoperability standards; develop Air Moving Target Indicator (AMTI) and Maritime MTI (MMTI) capabilities with incorporated Automatic Target Recognition (ATR) and low-bandwidth data sharing through existing communication infrastructure, prioritizing group 1-3 UAS.