Methodology For Improving The Planning Execution And Assessment Of Intelligence Surveillance And Reconnaissance Operations

Lingel et al. present alternative methods to (1) approach U.S. Air Force intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) tasking and assessment processes and (2) outline a methodology for assessing the benefits and costs of different ISR employment strategies. The U.S. Air Force greatly increased the number of operational surveillance and reconnaissance sensors and its ability to process data from these sensors in support of operations across a wide range of conflicts. However, along with the increased number of sensors comes an increase in the complexity of the tasking of these assets needed to prosecute either planned for or emergent battlefield targets. As part of the authors' research, they developed new assessment techniques and operational strategies to improve the command and control process for assigning ISR assets in dynamic environments. The authors also suggest tools to assist commanders of ISR assets in their decisions regarding allocating and retasking ISR assets. The report focuses on traditional target sets against adversaries whose behavior is well understood.