TRSS Air Delivered Target Acquisition Sensor

Current field deployed remote sensing capabilities are limited since they must be either hand emplaced or helicopter dropped from low altitudes. This is impractical in hostile, remote, or covert applications. A sensor capability is needed that can be dropped from high altitude, high performance aircraft and multiple sensors delivered to a desired precise location. Due to the expense in flight qualifying such systems on board high performance aircraft, the sensors must be capable of being delivered with an existing aircraft stores delivery system. Additionally, to provide useful information, the sensors must be able to discriminate between types of threats and determine the location sufficient to target the threat. Using such a sensor system integrated into the USMC Tactical Remote Sensor System (TRSS) would provide the Marine Air Ground Task Force (MAGTF) a significantly enhanced capability. SPEC proposes to develop an Advanced Air Delivered Sensor (AADS) that will provide passive remote target detection, classification, identification, and location. The sensor will provide the user continuous, all weather, wide area surveillance of areas beyond the safe operational range of rotary-winged platforms and ground reconnaissance forces. SPEC's approach deploys the AADS from an existing qualified AN/ALE-47 airborne countermeasures dispensing system minimizing flight worthiness qualification