Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) awarded Lockheed Martin Advanced Technology Laboratories (ATL) a $729,000, 30-month contract to automate intelligence preparation for the battlespace.

Called Multi-Perspective Fuser Software Tool for Salience Analysis, the program will reduce from weeks to days, or days to hours, the time intelligence analysts need for a process called Intelligence Preparation of the Battlespace (IPB). This process defines the battlespace, describes its potential effects, evaluates threats, and predicts courses of action that the enemy may use. There are two main categories of IPB products: geospatially- organized products, like map-overlays, and those that estimate enemy intent and course of action.

ATL will leverage its data fusion technologies to develop and evaluate a prototype tool called MyIPB. By using computationally-intensive data fusion, MyIPB will automatically or semi-automatically interact with analysts to create geospatially-organized products. Analysts will then use these products to evaluate threats and predict enemy intentions.

Because the IPB process is dispersed across branches and echelons, analysts typically compile similar information but must adjust it for their areas of interest. MyIPB will capitalize on reuse and automatically tailor products to maximize information exploitation and speed analyses. The result will enable Commanders to better understand their battlespace, create effective plans, and execute missions.

"MyIPB will significantly decrease the time needed to prepare intelligence by automating battlespace effects calculations and eliminating overlap in IPB products," said Kevin Barry, Lockheed Martin ATL program manager. "This automated process will let analysts look at data from their perspectives and focus on decision-making rather than data mining."

During development, MyIPB will go through a series of prototype deliveries, evaluations, and upgrades. ATL will deliver a mature software tool ready for experimental use by the U.S. Air Force in January 2010.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin employs about 140,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services.

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SOURCE: Lockheed Martin