WASHINGTON — U.S. defense contractor BAE Systems secured a $48 million contract from the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) to further develop an existing data analytics platform used by military intelligence analysts, the company announced Aug. 6.
The contract is to add new features and enhancements to a data analytics platform called Insight. AFRL wants to improve the system’s capabilities to integrate and analyze data from multiple sources, including sensors, satellites, drones, and human intelligence.
Originally managed by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), the Insight program has evolved over the years. In 2014, DARPA awarded BAE Systems a $79 million contract to develop data analysis tools aimed at simplifying the work of intelligence analysts who previously processed massive volumes of complex data manually.
The Insight system uses data fusion, predictive analytics, machine learning, and automation to process and analyze large volumes of data in real-time, a capability crucial for military intelligence analysis in complex operational environments.
“The Insight system leverages machine learning and autonomy-based solutions to help intelligence analysts process massive volumes of complex data and quickly translate it into actionable intelligence,” said Meg Redlin, product line director for mission systems at BAE Systems.
Under the new AFRL contract, BAE Systems will build upon previous work, focusing on techniques for generating intelligence from multiple sensors, domains and information types.
Work on the Insight program will be primarily conducted at BAE’s facilities San Diego, with other engineering teams across the United States contributing to the project.