AI on the frontlines: U.S. Army develops new long-range sensor tech

Defense technology company QinetiQ is working alongside the U.S. Army to help it develop a next-generation long-range sensor system powered by artificial intelligence (AI), called the Future Advanced Long-Range Common Optical/Netted-Fires Sensor (FALCONS).

As it happens, the upcoming system will take the place of the Army’s current Long-Range Advanced Scout Surveillance System (LRAS3). It employs AI and can detect and identify targets from farther distances, even in bad weather, according to a press release from February 25.

Expanding the U.S. Army range

To develop this cutting-edge technology, QinetiQ US is working with the U.S. Army Program Executive Office Intelligence, Electronic Warfare and Sensors (PEO IEW&S). The ultimate goal is to help soldiers find targets beyond the range of enemy weapons and enhance battlefield awareness as part of its modernization plans for 2030 onward.

Commenting on the development, Jonathan Riksen, the executive vice president and general manager of National & Global Security Solutions at QinetiQ US, explained:

“QinetiQ US brings deep expertise in complex systems integration and a thorough understanding of soldier needs to the FALCONS program. (…) We are uniquely positioned to coordinate with key suppliers and integrate advanced technologies – from AI-enabled target recognition to multi-spectrum sensing – into a cohesive system that will give our warfighters a decisive advantage on the battlefield.”

The system could also include semi-autonomous features to reduce the work soldiers need to do while improving accuracy in finding and identifying targets. QinetiQ US will also make sure the FALCONS system works seamlessly with other battlefield technologies.

AI tech to address threats

Meanwhile, the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) has developed an AI method to accurately assess drone threats in response to the recent proliferation of threats from inexpensive unmanned autonomous systems (UAS), also known as drones.

As a reminder, the U.S. government has earlier resolved to deploy high-tech drone detection technology as weeks of unidentified drones over New Jersey caused panic in December and lawmakers demanded an investigation. Indeed, there were at least 3,000 sightings and the U.S. military officials said they didn’t belong to them.