PEO - INTELLIGENCE AND INFORMATION SYSTEMS
Steve Kundrat, the acting PEO for Intelligence and Information Systems (PEO-IIS) manages acquisition of intelligence, communications, information technology and psychological operations systems and equipment. The programs in the PEO-IIS portfolio are managed by six functional program management offices: Program Manager for Automation (PMA); Psychological Operations (PM-PSYOP); Communications, Command & Control (PM-C3); Intelligence Systems (PM-I); National Systems Support to SOF (PMNSSS); and Reconnaissance & Surveillance (PM-R&S). Contracting, financial management, systems engineering, sustainment management, advanced concept technology demonstrations (ACTD) and special applications for contingencies (SAFC) staff sections provide additional support to the PEO.
PM-AUTOMATION
The PM-A acquires and implements enterprise-wide communications, information technology (IT), and video teleconferencing systems which provide command and control, intelligence and business solutions for the SOF warfighters. PM-A designs, develops, integrates, tests, and fields IT enterprise infrastructures and fixed-based (garrison) and mobile (tactical) automation systems which operate at various security levels. To accomplish this, PM-A integrates COTS software and hardware into garrison solutions and both COTS software and hardware—along with government off-the-shelf equipment—into modular, scalable packages that extend the fixed-based garrison automation capabilities to tactical SOF units and remote operators. This combination of fixed and tactical systems provides connectivity throughout the entire worldwide SOF community as well as to other Department of Defense and federal government agencies. Current PMA programs include the following:
Fixed-base (garrison)
• Command, Control, Communications, Computers, and Intelligence Automated System (C4IAS)
• Special Operations Command Research, Analysis, and Threat Evaluation System (SOCRATES)
Both Fixed-base (garrison) and Mobile (tactical)
• Distributed Common Ground System-SOF (DCGS-SOF)
• Tactical Local Area Network (TACLAN)
• Video Teleconferencing (VTC)
The C4IAS, SOCRATES, TACLAN and VTC programs are fully operational and in an evolutionary technology insertion mode whereby PM-A acquires and implements next generation technology solutions for each program. The DCGS-SOF is in the early planning phases.
PM-A’s primary areas of interest include technology solutions for the following capabilities:
• Data management and storage
• Web-centric computing
• Biometric technology solutions
• Network management and monitoring
• Dynamic bandwidth compression
• Worldwide language translation/transliteration
• Cross domain automated fusion and dissemination
• Automated meta data tagging
• Video and audio compression algorithms
• Man-portable (tactical) VTC
• Mission planning and execution
• Adaptive planning tools
• Common operational picture
• Force synchronization
• Information management
PM-SOF DIGITAL ENVIRONMENT
The SDE encompasses the tactical local area network (TACLAN) suites, the TACLAN mission planning kits, the TACLAN field computing devices, and the low-cost Sband receiver (LSR) system. TACLAN integrates software and hardware COTS and GOTS equipment into modular, scalable packages that extend required fixed-based garrison automation capabilities to tactical SOF units and remote operators. TACLAN data processing and display capabilities support situation awareness, mission planning and execution, command and control of forces, and intelligence analysis and reporting. The LSR system offers receiveonly access to tactical SIPRNET and JWICS users via the Mission-22 satellite.
PM-PSYOP
The PSYOP program office pursues long-term, far-reaching, dynamic technologies to modernize and transform the entire PSYOP procurement portfolio. New, additional, and integrated technologies are required to enable PSYOP forces to consistently and continuously better identify, analyze, evaluate, find and reach specific target audiences with continuously improved analyses, product development, distribution, dissemination and feedback capabilities to successfully compete against or counter media products and messages worldwide. Environments range from permissive to hostile. Technologies of interest extend the reach, capacity and capability of PSYOP product analysis and development; distribution; dissemination in the commercial AM, FM, TV and SW broadcast spectrums; electronic and modular displays, print media, and loud speakers. Technologies of interest include telephony, cellular, internet, space, audio, visual, audio-visual, manned and unmanned vehicle payloads, long range (on the order of 800 nautical miles) broadcast, focused sound, and command and control capabilities for manned and unmanned PSYOP assets.
PM-COMMAND, CONTROL, AND COMMUNICATIONS
PM-C3 is pursuing an evolutionary technology insertion (ETI) for the SOF Deployable Node-Lite (SDN-Lite) communication system. SDN-Lite is a ruggedized, portable communications terminal that provides secure and non-secure voice, video, and data traversing the INMARSAT M4 Global Area Network satellite infrastructure to SOF worldwide. The ETI will target the transition to INMARSAT’s fourth generation I4 Broadband Global Area Network (BGAN) and High Assurance Internet Protocol Encryption (HAIPE). In making these transitions, ETI will provide an increase in bandwidth and a reduction in INMARSAT airtime costs, as well as an overall size and weight reduction in the system.
PM-C3 is pursuing a small, ruggedized, portable assemblage capable of sending and receiving high quality audio and video and live or pre-recorded psychological operations products in real time using store-and-forward functionality. Transmission time will be equal to or greater than the length of the original signal, and store-and-forward requirements are for six hours of broadcast quality audio or video and 12 hours of compact disc quality audio. System components will be housed in two cases that meet one-man lift and commercial carry-on baggage size requirements. Product Distribution System (PDS)-Lite will be able to automatically increase or decrease the amount of satellite resources assigned to the terminal to transmit or receive a product. The PDS network will use partial mesh spoke operations, which can be upgraded to full-mesh capability. BGAN, Ku-band, and Ka-band satellite technologies will be investigated in conjunction with HAIPE to increase bandwidth efficiency, reduce airtime costs, and reduce overall system size and weight.
The USSOCOM Blue Force Tracking program provides lightweight, portable, secure equipment used to remotely track and monitor friendly forces and to enhance command and control, threat warning, force protection, situational awareness, counter-fratricide and battlefield visualization. The legacy devices include the miniature transmitter manufactured by General Dynamics and the BT4 handheld device, a joint government development. These devices are man-portable but also used on SOF platforms. Certain Army SOF also utilize the U.S. Army’s Force XXI Battle Command, Brigade and Below system. A new requirement has been validated for smaller, lighter, secure devices with global, 24/7 coverage. USSOCOM is working with the U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps to obtain future joint solutions under the Joint Blue Force Situational Awareness program.
PM-INTELLIGENCE SYSTEMS
The PM-I programs span various levels of field employment. Garrison programs provide open source and classified data mining and fusion, weapons of mass destruction counter proliferation analyses, and location-specific operational planning data capabilities. The forward operating base programs provide tactical data receivers for near real-time situational awareness and threat detection. The tactical programs provide man-packable threat warning, force protection, and situational awareness tools for SOF. Airborne and maritime variants for information collection/ dissemination and threat warning are also being developed.
Technologies of interest pursued by PM-I seek to improve on size, weight, power and processing characteristics of products used for intelligence collection. Modular devices capable of supporting technological growth prove to be most efficient for continued future use. Technologies with cross-functionality and/or flexibility to support a myriad of applications are key features that provide the greatest utility. In addition to innovative hardware/software products, interest lies in novel applications of COTS and GOTS equipment to improve future intelligence collection and processing capabilities. Increasing competition for finite funds mandates that future products match or exceed stated performance and delivery standards at a value that benefits both the government and industry.
Below are the current PM-I programs listed by level:
Garrison
•Special Operations Joint Interagency Collaboration Center
• Counter Proliferation Analysis and Planning System
• Integrated Survey Program
Forward Operating Base
• Integrated Broadcast Systems (IBS) receivers
• Multi-mission Advanced Tactical Terminal (MATT)
• Embedded National Tactical Receiver (ENTR)
• Rugged ENTR Device (RED)
Tactical
• Joint Threat Warning System (JTWS)
• Manpack Advanced Concept Technology Demonstration (ACTD)
• Urban Recon ACTD
• Machine-Based Language Translation (MBLT)
PM-NATIONAL SUPPORT SYSTEMS FOR SOF
National Systems Support to SOF (NSSS) is an intelligence systems research and development rapid prototyping program. NSSS improves the combat effectiveness of USSOCOM, its components, and the theater special operations commands by leveraging service and national agency development efforts on space-based intelligence and communications technologies and systems. Current technology areas being developed include Blue Force Tracking, enhanced geospatial intelligence processing, stratospheric persistent surveillance, improved intelligence dissemination systems, man-hunting tools, mission planning tools for improved rotary wing air crew safety and improved data exfiltration/infiltration technologies. After successful demonstration of the prototype technology, NSSS transitions the technology to a USSOCOM program of record for acquisition and fielding.
PM-RECONNAISSANCE & SURVEILLANCE
The Reconnaissance and Surveillance program management office is actively exploiting, vetting and fielding persistent reconnaissance and surveillance technologies in support of exigencies and the GWOT through the special reconnaissance capability; special operations tactical video system and reconnaissance surveillance target acquisition; and hostile forces tagging, tracking and locating programs. Our ongoing initiatives to improve finding, fixing and finishing include improving sensor technology for long-range, unattended, persistent surveillance and increasing capabilities to precisely tag, track and locate high-value targets. ♦