TECHNICAL POINT OF CONTACT (TPOC)
Erika Ardiles-Cruz
Ariana Emad
PROJECTED CMMC LEVEL REQUIREMENT
Level 2 (Self)
TECHNOLOGY AREAS
Air Platform
|
Information Systems
|
Sensors
MODERNIZATION PRIORITIES
Trusted AI and Autonomy
KEYWORDS
Combat Assessment, Physical Damage, Functional Damage, Machine Learning, Edge Processing, Testing, Evaluation.
OBJECTIVE
Develop a real time automated combat assessment at the edge system.
DESCRIPTION
Combat assessment (physical and functional) provides tactically relevant information for re-strike and re-planning. The state of practice for traditional targeting involves generating after-action reports including battle-damage assessment hours after mission execution relying on multiple imagery collects (EO). This analysis is performed as a sequence of independent tasks that are outdated, time consuming, and lack automation. This does not meet timeline requirements for prosecution of advanced enemy threat systems as critical missions require battle damage assessment immediately post-strike, to inform planning for restrike and to drive potential changes to operations.
Despite advancements in technology, challenges still remain for speeding processes such as time-consuming and often incomplete nature of traditional damage assessment methods, limitations in remote sensing technologies, hindering data collection especially in remote or difficult-to-access areas, the lack of real time pre- and post-event satellite imagery for model training. This topic seeks the development of a system for the automation of damage assessment following the below operational realities:
- Edge Processing Software. Software programs and data-sharing instructions designed to run directly on physical field equipment such as sensors and drones. For multi-sensor, multi-modal data collection and processing, damage classification and assessment at the edge in (near) real time, and information sharing protocols under low SWaP and contested environments constraints.
- AI/ML Software Model Development. AI/ML software designed to automatically classify military damaged. For damage classification (physical and functional) that is aligned to the CJCSI 3162.02 for DoD customers, confidence intervals aligned to the Intelligence Community Directive ICD 302, and performance metrics for accuracy, computation time, and sensors density & location.
- Robust Testing and Evaluation. To ensure the operational effectiveness, suitability, and survivability of the aforementioned technologies, testing and evaluation would be conducted in a phased approach. Beginning with laboratory-based testing to verify basic functionality and performance, followed by increasingly complex testing in simulated and field environments. The goal is to ensure that the technologies developed for combat assessment are operationally effective, suitable, and can be confidently deployed in operationally relevant environments.
PHASE I
Phase I will focus on the analysis and design of an automated combat assessment at the edge system for re-strike (a particularly targeted asset) and re-attack recommendations with preliminary laboratory model testing. Awardees must demonstrate an innovative approach to physical and functional combat assessment, and novel or under-utilized data modalities. The final report must detail feasibility study findings and a Phase II plan.
PHASE II
findings and a Phase II plan.
PHASE II: Develop, implement, test, evaluate, and demonstrate a distributed automated damage assessment system at the edge that follows the criteria on the Description and Phase I sections of this proposal. The final report must detail all criteria implementations and a Phase III plan.
Phase II performance will focus on the development, integration, and operational evaluation of a functional prototype software system for distributed, edge-based automated combat assessment. Awardees will transition Phase I designs into working software models running on representative edge hardware, culminating in a demonstration within a simulated or operationally relevant environment.
Required deliverables may include:
Functional prototype software and compiled AI/ML model weights.
Comprehensive system architecture and interface control documentation (ICD).
Phase II final report detailing test results, performance metrics, criteria implementations, and a commercialization/transition plan for Phase III production and deployment.
PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS
The awardee will identify and pursue commercial applications, including urban surveillance, disaster and humanitarian response, and other use cases.
REFERENCES
Analytic Standards, Intelligence Community Directive 203 Technical Amendment, Office of the Director of National Intelligence, 2023. [Online]. Available: https://www.dni.gov/files/documents/ICD/ICD-203.pdf. [Accessed Aug. 19, 2025].
Methodology for Combat Assessment, United States Joint Chiefs of Staff, 2021. [Online]. Available: https://www.jcs.mil/Portals/36/Documents/Library/Instructions/CJCSI%203162.02A.pdf. [Accessed Aug. 19, 2025].
BROAD AGENCY ANNOUNCEMENT (BAA) TITLE: Targeting Operations and Analytics Development, BAA: FA8750-25-S-7002. [On Line]. Available: https://sam.gov/opp/b7ad150efe1c4c8aaf574a7f6ca12276/view. [Accessed Aug. 19. 2025].
