CID Scout UAV

The rapidly changing conditions on the modern non-linear battlefield, combined with the increasing use of long-range weapons and emerging capabilities such as armed UAVs, are driving the need for improved beyond line of sight (BLOS) situational awarenessand advanced CID systems to prevent fratricide. This problem is particularly acute for ground targets in air-to-surface and surface-to-surface missions. The accidental bombing of Canadian troops by and American F-16 in Afghanistan is prime example of thepotential for fratricide when reliable, interoperable combat identification (CID) systems are not used by all friendly US/Allied/Coalition forces.The BLOS CID SBIR program supports the on-going Coalition Combat Identification (CCID) ACTD program. During the BLOS CID Phase I SBIR program, SARA successfully illustrated the operational benefits of employing a UAV equipped with acoustic and imagingsensors and a radio based combat identification (RBCI) system to gather data on the location of friendly/coalition and enemy forces, as well as non-combatants, for improved situational awareness. The Phase II program will develop a BLOS CID conceptdemonstration system integrated with a surrogate UAV and demonstrate its use under operational conditions.The rapidly changing conditions on the modern non-linear battlefield, combined with the increasing use of long-range weapons and emerging capabilities such as armed UAVs, are driving the need for improved beyond line of sight (BLOS) situational awarenessand advanced CID systems to prevent fratricide. This problem is particularly acute for ground targets in air-to-surface and surface-to-surface missions. The accidental bombing of Canadian troops by and American F-16 in Afghanistan is prime example of thepotential for fratricide when reliable, interoperable combat identification (CID) systems are not used by all friendly US/Allied/Coalition forces.The BLOS CID SBIR program supports the on-going Coalition Combat Identification (CCID) ACTD program. During the BLOS CID Phase I SBIR program, SARA successfully illustrated the operational benefits of employing a UAV equipped with acoustic and imagingsensors and a radio based combat identification (RBCI) system to gather data on the location of friendly/coalition and enemy forces, as well as non-combatants, for improved situational awareness. The Phase II program will develop a BLOS CID conceptdemonstration system integrated with a surrogate UAV and demonstrate its use under operational conditions.