Description
ISR has become an integral part of intelligence operations and collection. New emerging technologies in platforms, sensors, software and AI have provided remarkable capabilities in a very short time. The level of persistent surveillance, now available, was thought impossible at the turn of the century. A management challenge is the enormous volume of data being collected and not analyzed.
But another management challenge is the lack of interoperability among the broad-range of ISR systems. For example, the Air Force and Army operate separate DCGS networks, and the Air Force and Navy operate their own version of the Global Hawk. The IC needs to migrate towards a more interoperable joint intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capability.
Should the ODNI or USD(I) take the lead in creating a Joint ISR Initiative and appoint a Joint ISR Capabilities Manager to bring together a range of organizations, or would this just be another bureaucratic layer?
