Combat Air Intelligence System Activities

Combat Air Intelligence System Activities (CAIS) is a program element within the Air Force's Research, Development, Test & Evaluation (RDT&E) budget, focused on providing intelligence infrastructure and production capabilities for air component and unit operations worldwide. The overarching goal is to process, analyze, and disseminate intelligence to support air operations and joint missions, ensuring that supported and supporting forces have access to timely and relevant intelligence. CAIS funds modernization efforts for enterprise capabilities both inside and outside Air Operations Centers (AOCs), adapting to evolving Government Off the Shelf (GOTS) and Commercial Off the Shelf (COTS) components, Department of Defense (DoD) directives, and changes in the underlying IT environment.

A major line item under CAIS supports the development and enhancement of applications for Target Development, Planning, and Execution. This project provides funding for advanced tools such as the Joint Targeting Toolbox (JTT) and WARPATH, which deliver capabilities in Intermediate and Advanced Target Development, Target List Management, and Target Folder Development. The objective is to automate and accelerate the kill chain through cloud-based and AI-enabled sensing grid technologies, directly supporting national, combatant command, and Air Force intelligence missions. The program also funds analysis and visualization tools to close capability gaps against adversaries' truncated kill chains, and supports integration with Intelligence Community (IC) standards through the IC-ITE initiative.

Within this effort, research and development focuses on tools and workflows to implement the sensor-to-shooter concept, aiming to accelerate dynamic execution at scale. The program invests in cloud architecture and AI/ML capabilities to enhance target mensuration, improve speed and capacity for target location, and support agile combat environments. These efforts are intended to shorten long-range kill chains and improve the Air Force's ability to counter emerging threats, including high-altitude balloons and unmanned airborne ISR platforms.

Modernization of targeting capabilities is supported through phased efforts, including re-architecture of the JTT codebase and development of Unit Level Intelligence (ULI) systems such as TITAN and Targeting Application Workstation (TAW). The program emphasizes continuous integration and DevOps practices to enable rapid delivery of new capabilities to warfighters. It also funds emerging targeting applications and modernization efforts to ensure that Major Commands (MAJCOMs) have access to requisite intelligence and GEOINT tools.

Another project is dedicated to supporting personnel using geospatial resources and applications, including the Enhanced Geospatial Product Library (EGPL). EGPL serves as a worldwide repository for geospatial products from the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency (NGA) and other sources, providing digital GEOINT data for mission planning and targeting. The program funds technology refresh initiatives, geospatial imagery data management, and dissemination architecture modernization to ensure that GEOINT tools remain current and effective for Air Force and DoD command and control systems.

Ongoing support for EGPL software and storage is provided, adapting to evolving IT and GEOINT standards. This includes maintaining seamless access to NGA foundational GEOINT data for all combatant command air components and subordinate units. The program supports continuous delivery of software updates and enhancements, leveraging agile methodologies and cloud-based infrastructure provided by the All Domain Common Platform (ADCP).

The acquisition strategy for CAIS and its associated projects is built on agile software engineering and evolutionary acquisition, enabling dynamic resource allocation based on warfighter needs. The transition to the NDAA FY20 Software Acquisition Pathway allows for modular development and contracting, reducing timelines and supporting rapid prototyping and fielding of software-intensive systems. Kessel Run, as part of the CAIS portfolio, leverages cloud-based infrastructure to deliver resilient mission applications and data to Airmen globally, ensuring that intelligence and targeting capabilities keep pace with operational requirements and technological advancements.