Strength in Numbers

by Gene Klager oemagazine, November/December 2005

High-quality situational awareness is critical to the continued existence of a medium-weight force that cannot depend on extensive armor for survival. Current reconnaissance, surveillance, and target-acquisition (RSTA) capabilities are not sufficient to cover intelligence gaps or provide the beyond-line-of-sight (BLOS) targeting and ambush avoidance that are necessary for combat forces operating in complex terrain and urban areas near enemy forces. Networked Sensors for the Future Force is a U.S. Army program designed to develop and demonstrate a new generation of networked, low-cost, distributed unmanned sensor systems. The goal of the program is to extend the eyes and ears of the RSTA element to provide BLOS situational understanding and targeting information.

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