A leaked memo that criticizes a new Air Force surveillance system has since been revised to include plans to fix the cutting-edge technology, according to the service.
An internal report prepared by Air Force testing personnel last year says the Gorgon Stare drone-mounted sensor pod has problems that make it neither “operationally effective” nor “operationally suitable” for Afghanistan. The document identifies 13 specific technological shortfalls.
Further, military testers found that video captured by Gorgon Stare was in some instances of significantly lower quality than video captured by Predators and Reapers already flying in Afghanistan.
“Image quality does not support mission sets commonly used by [remote video terminal] users,” the report states.
The report goes on to recommend that the system not be fielded until the most serious problems are fixed.
However, the Air Force says the necessary changes to the surveillance pod are under way and that the report has since been revised to reflect that fact. Air Force spokesman Lt. Col. Richard Johnson said yesterday that “the document leaked was a draft memo that was later revised” this month.
The memo “includes three issues that we have identified and have fixes in place,” Johnson added via e-mail. “The first was addressing critical Technical Order shortfalls; the second was Gorgon Stare Ground Station image and grid coordinate generation; and the third was Remote Video Terminal compatibility. We’re working all three issues and do not believe they will affect the deployment schedule.”
Johnson also said that Gorgon Stare “will not be fielded until the theater commander accepts it.”
Sister publication Defense Daily first reported the Air Force’s development of Gorgon Stare in the fall of 2008. The effort was part of Defense Secretary Robert Gates’ plan to provide ground troops with better situational awareness–often referred to as an intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance “surge.”
The new wide-area airborne surveillance pod is designed to provide 10 times the viewing power of current systems. Currently, only one video feed is provided per platform. It is to be mounted on MQ- 9 Reaper drone aircraft.
The new pods weigh approximately 1,500 pounds each, which make them too heavy to be flown on the Predator or the Army’s MQ-1C Gray Eagle. Air Force officials have said the service’s primary reason for purchasing more MQ-9s was the desire to accommodate Gorgon Stare.
According to budget documents, more than $500 million was spent on Gorgon Stare-related activities between fiscal 2009 and 2011. The Air Fore is requesting $152 million more for FY12.
Johnson said the Air Force is already working on a next-generation version.
“Gorgon Stare is in the first increment of a multi-increment program, and the second increment will increase the warfighter’s capabilities by range and resolution,” he said.