Air Power 2017

76 AIR POWER 2017

21 ST CENTURY CAPABILITIES

21 ST CENTURY PARTNERSHIPS

ground moving target indication (GMTI)

and synthetic aperture radar (SAR)

imagery for situational awareness;

• the Shadow R1 offers electro-optic/
  infrared (EO/IR) imagery; and


• the MQ-9 Reaper remotely piloted air system
  (RPAS) equipped with the AN/AAS-52 Multi-
  Spectral Targeting System, which is an EO/
  IR turret with an infrared sensor, colour/
  monochrome daylight TV camera, image-
  intensified TV camera, laser rangefinder/
  designator and laser illuminator.

These various sensors enable a layered approach
using different parts of the electromagnetic (EM)
spectrum to exploit and disseminate the analysis of
the imagery taken or the signals recorded. “It’s not
used as stand-alone intel,” Air Cdre Andrew explains.
“it’s used by merging our collect into the other
collects – the more strategic ‘Big Data’ collect – using
intelligence drawn from the media and people walking
on the street, to create one enormous intelligence.”
This is done at RAF Wyton in the Pathfinder
building, where “we synergise and fuse all RAF-
derived information together and we match it
up with other intelligence information that is
out there”, including open-source news. Air Cdre
Andrew describes it as “a Fusion Hub... Elements

of our exploit capability are coming together

now to make the fusion centre a one-stop shop

and a world-leading centre of intelligence.”

When asked how the RAF’s airborne ISTAR

resources are being enhanced, the air commodore

again emphasises that his task is about capability,

and not platforms per se. “We’re increasing our

fleet size in the areas we think can provide most

By the end of 2017,

the RAF will have

taken delivery of

the third and final

RC-135W Airseeker

(PHOTO: SGT SI PUGSLEY/

© CROWN COPYRIGHT)

The E-3D Sentry’s roles include air and sea surveillance, airborne command and

control, and weapons control (PHOTO: SAC HELEN RIMMER / © CROWN COPYRIGHT)