<title>Interoperable imagery surface system (IISS): a concept for the reconnaissance surface station of the 21st century</title>

Abstract

Timely reconnaissance information has always been a highly valued commodity. In early conflicts, higher elevations were sought to overlook and observe the battlefield. Technology has jogressed to provide the latest in modern airborne reconnaissance, wherein sensor imagery is recorded and transmitted in mid-ifight to an earth surface station for immediate exploitation. The benefits of designing reconnaissance systems fr maximum interoperability are obvious. The types of int&operability of concern are: interoperability between airbne collection and surfe exploitation systems, interoperability between surface systems, and interoperability among the functional modules of the surface systems. The goal is to provide means for intemperability among the digital electronic imagery reconnaissance assets of the United States and its allies. RECONNAISSANCE SURFACE SYSTEMS: PRESENT AND FUTUREDigital imagery reconnaissance surface stations of varied purpose, capability, implementation and scale exist today. There are currently approximately 44 distinct U.S. surface stations. In designing these systems, little regard was given to exploiting the inherent commonality of such systems to ease development and deliver a more intemperable product Reasons for this included the limits of technology and the lack of available standards to suppcii this approach. It was common for a collection system and an exploitation system to be developed so that eh was uniquely designed to operate solely with the other system ofthe dedicated pair.The number of Department of Defense systems requiring softcopy imagery and image exploitation capabilities continues to grow. Developments in Critical areas are rapidly advancing. High speed networking and digital communication technology, standards, and open systems efforts have gained prominence. These ftors, together with the dwindling of defense dollars, signal that the time has come to design the common architecture upon which to base the imagery surface station of the 21st century, the Interoperable Imagery Surface System (IISS).This surfe system will strive to offer interoperability with all airborne collection platforms (manned and unmann&) (Figure 1), interoperability with all surface exploitation systems, intercperabffity among its own functional modules and interoperability with the functional modules of other surface systems. The 1155 will be reconfigurable to meet any image viewing or exploitation requirement (Figure 1). The architecture will be scaleable, extensible, and amenable to evolutionary enhancements. Hardware-independence will be a goal.Using the 1155 architecture f all new surfe systems will have a great impL An improved reconnaissance force structure will be a natural conseqtnce. Restrictions resulting from non-interoperability will decrease, freeing the commander to deploy the optimal complement of assets to acomplish a mission. THE BENEFITS OF MAXIMIZING INTEROPERABILITYThe interoperabiity of a system is a good indicator of tl flexibility and ultimate usefulness and value of the syst...