A flying ISR laboratory developed by Lockheed Martin recently demonstrated advanced capabilities to disseminate real-time intelligence data, including streaming video, imagery and communications feeds to a ground station. Lockheed Martin's Airborne Multi-INT Laboratory (AML) flew several flights using previously collected data to demonstrate intelligence collection, analysis, processing and dissemination.

"The AML has proved itself as a test platform for next generation intelligence sensors," said Jim Quinn, vice president with Lockheed Martin's Information Systems and Global Solutions -Defense.

"Customers are concerned with the speed of solution delivery, reducing the risk of those solutions and delivering differentiated capability affordably. The AML offers customers a highly capable, flexible system that can be used to meet immediate needs and respond to critical challenges."

During the flight experiments, the AML relayed streaming video as well as previously collected communications and electronic intelligence to a ground station at the Corporation's SWIFT laboratory located in Farnborough, UK. Almost immediately, staff members at the SWIFT Lab were able to view and analyze the data and also update mission plans and tasks.

The multi-INT data sent to the SWIFT laboratory was then linked with the Distributed Common Ground System (DCGS) Integration Backbone (DIB) at another Lockheed Martin facility in Colorado. DCGS is the Department of Defense enterprise that collects and processes vast amounts of intelligence and imagery from manned and unmanned reconnaissance sources.

This exercise demonstrated the AML's ability to transfer intelligence between coalition forces. It also reinforced that, with minimal development time, customers can use the AML to determine the optimum mix of sensors and systems to fill existing capability gaps to support contingency operations.

In fact, for customers faced with capability shortfalls or those looking to fill an immediate operational need, this robust, easily reconfigurable flying laboratory is available for lease.

By combining a simulation framework with real-world assets, the AML offers a cost effective testing and risk reduction method for customers in today's challenging environment.