Lockheed Martin received a two-year, $1.1-million follow-on contract to further develop the Time-Sensitive-Target, Dynamic-Decision Enabler (TDDE). The program seeks to reduce to two minutes or less the time needed for military Air Operation Centers (AOC) to prosecute time-sensitive targets.

The flood of data within the AOC overwhelms decision-makers, or Cell Chiefs, often thwarting their ability to quickly and efficiently track, assess, and prosecute targets that pose immediate threats. The current process can take 30 minutes to several hours.

Sponsored by the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory Information Directorate, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, TDDE integrates knowledge-based techniques, intelligent software agents, and enterprise-based retrieval services. The application uses these technologies to coalesce and reduce data and then recommend appropriate actions to Cell Chiefs far more accurately and quickly than are currently possible.

During the initial contract, Lockheed Martin designed and developed a TDDE application that used rules of engagement, criteria for target validation, estimates of collateral damage, and threat effects to automatically recommend courses of action. Typical suggestions included whether or not to strike and which weapons to use in ranked order.

The follow-on program will improve on this work by enhancing operational capability.

"We will improve the system's reasoning process by developing additional intelligent agents and will enhance system knowledge so the application can perform in a robust, dynamic scenario environment," said Bill Ratliff, technical director Lockheed Martin Advanced Technology Laboratories. "It's our goal to make sure our troops have the best tools available."

The current contract is scheduled to conclude in 2007 with a demonstration at the U.S. Air Force Rome Research Site in Rome, NY. The Lockheed Martin team will simulate the execution of several scenarios while fully integrated with the Theater Battle Management Core and the Joint Weather Information Systems.

Lockheed Martin Advanced Technology Laboratories is providing system integration, developing software, and performing knowledge acquisition with subject matter experts. Lockheed Martin Integrated Systems & Solutions is providing software, engineering support, and subject matter expertise.

Headquartered in Bethesda, MD, Lockheed Martin employs about 130,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in research, design, development, manufacture, and integrations of advanced technology systems, products, and services.

For additional information on Lockheed Martin Corporation, visit our website:

http://www.lockheedmartin.com/.

SOURCE: Lockheed Martin