Fusion For The Objective Force

Fusion of intelligence data supports the warfighter in any role by building a sufficient view of the situation so that understanding and acting first is the assured outcome.

Situation Understanding gathers the common operational picture (COP) for the scope of that role by employing the four levels of intelligence fusion and augmenting that with high-fidelity records of mission progress and readiness. It includes timely, relevant and continuous situational awareness of friendly, enemy and neutral elements across the 4-dimensional battlespace.

Overwatch Textron Systems has designed an open architecture approach to meet our warfighter's demanding fusion , visualization, readiness, battle-state assessment and meteorological and weather effects requirements. In addition, considerable effort has been expended in event analysis using real-world missions through modeling and simulation. This work is oriented toward aggregating the entities on the battlespace, detecting patterns and behaviors that presage actions of interest (Level 3 fusion) and in assessing and modifying the process (Level 4 fusion).

Fusion Development Methodology

TacOps is approaching the FCS Level 1 though 5 fusion challenge by adopting a set of standards by which fusion solutions are measured:

CHALLENGE: What automated fusion is performed and what results are displayed/forwarded in each relevant context?

APPROACH: Adopt a common model of fusion process, flow and products (aka "ontology"), with adaptations by participant role.

CHALLENGE: How is distributed fusion supported?

APPROACH: (1) Adopt a common probability-based approach for assessing confidence and pedigree of results; (2) Share all data and results as supported by available communications bandwidth using pedigree to avoid over counting.

CHALLENGE: How is technology insertion supported?

APPROACH: (1) Implement a fusion technology maturity assessment process (evaluation, demonstration, simulation, integration); (2) Strictly adhere to public interface specifications at module level (and sub-module levels, as appropriate).