Gates casts glance at future ISR

The Defense Department hopes to establish as many as six new platforms for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, Aviation Week reports.

Few details are available at this time on the additional platforms since most of the proposed ISR initiatives remain classified. However, Gates said in a recent press conference that he plans to add funding for new full-motion video sensors to meet a growing demand from commanders in Iraq and Afghanistan for such technology.

In a presentation to the Air War College last week, Gates praised Air Force personnel for dramatically increasing the number of unmanned aerial vehicle orbits in-theater. He said the number of around-the-clock orbits had risen from 23 combat air patrols 12 months ago to 34 today.

In addition, he noted that “a modest expenditure” in outfitting advanced sensors to turboprop aircraft assigned to Army’s Task Force Odin and the Air Force’s Task Force Liberty is leading to better intelligence for combat forces operating in Southwest Asia.

The Defense Department is preparing to undertake a Quadrennial Defense Review that will incorporate the latest lessons learned on the battlefield. Gates hopes that the QDR findings will provide valuable information in shaping the requirements of future weapons systems—a process that might begin with the fiscal 2011 budget.