Intelligence Advanced Development

The Intelligence Advanced Development (IAD) program, under Air Force Program Element (PE) 0603260F, is designed to develop and demonstrate advanced technologies that support warfighter needs for timely, all-source intelligence information. The program's overarching goal is to enhance global awareness, battlespace knowledge, and the execution of time-critical missions by leveraging innovative tools such as data analytics, machine learning, and software automation. IAD addresses deficiencies identified by Air Combat Command (ACC) at both tactical and operational levels. Requirements are managed by the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), Rome Research Site, Information Intelligence Systems and Analysis Division (AFRL/RIE). The program expedites technology transition from laboratory prototypes to operational users, often reallocating resources to meet emergent warfighter requirements.

Intelligence Exploitation Tools (IET) focuses on the development of prototypes that advance all-source correlation and fusion for intelligence analysts. The primary objectives are to create innovative data analytics, machine learning, and automated software tools that enable rapid interpretation and fusion of disparate intelligence sources, including COMINT, ELINT, IMINT, GEOINT, MASINT, SIGINT, and publicly available information. IET aims to improve situational awareness for Air Force, Department of Defense (DoD), and coalition partners by facilitating timely correlation of intelligence data. The program also supports cross-domain exploitation at multiple classification levels and develops methods to analyze current and future foreign weapon systems.

In FY 2025, the IET program continues development and demonstration of knowledge representation and reasoning tools for intelligent systems, focusing on complex tasks such as audio/video data clustering and filtering using semantic embedding techniques. Additional objectives include the prediction of aircraft trajectory and behavior without real-time positioning information, threat airborne radar analysis supporting predictive analysis and electronic warfare programmability, and the initiation of over-the-horizon (OTH) tracking of adversary assets. In FY 2026, these efforts will be completed and integrated into operational systems, with continued emphasis on enhancing predictive analysis and OTH tracking capabilities.

The acquisition strategy for IET involves identifying and prioritizing requirements for new or improved operational techniques by ACC, with AFRL Rome Research Site managing development. Prototype products, typically software, are transitioned to the operational community in spirals following user evaluation. All major contracts are awarded through full and open competition, ensuring broad participation and innovation in technology development.

Intelligence Analysis Capabilities (IAC) is tasked with the ongoing development and upgrade of threat analysis capabilities to produce integrated, predictive air and space intelligence. The goal is to enable military operations, force modernization decisions, and policy making by accelerating and increasing the accuracy of threat estimates and system descriptions for deployed operational forces. IAC develops tools and algorithms that provide intelligence analysts with accurate, predictive, relevant, and timely intelligence to support operational planning and mission execution.

In FY 2025, IAC plans to complete the development of analysis tools for geospatial features, making AI/ML models and predictions geospatially discoverable within the Distributed Common Ground System. Other objectives include completing object detection algorithms for ground and aerial platforms, developing a C4ISR intelligence database with advanced visualization and editing capabilities, and finalizing a geospatial reasoning situational awareness tool. The program will also initiate a unified targeting and operational predictive intelligence application to forecast adversarial threats. In FY 2026, efforts will continue on predictive intelligence applications and begin cloud enablement of the electronic warfare integrated reprogramming database (EWIRDB) to improve dissemination and support.

The acquisition strategy for IAC mirrors that of IET, with ACC identifying requirements and AFRL Rome Research Site managing development. Prototype products are fielded incrementally as capabilities mature, and all major contracts are awarded through full and open competition. Both IET and IAC may reallocate resources to address out-of-cycle warfighter requirements, ensuring responsiveness to evolving operational needs. Civilian pay expenses are included as necessary to manage and deliver weapon system capabilities, with supplemental funds provided as required.