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Lt. Col. Jim Ross, Program Executive Office Intelligence, Electronic Warfare Sensors director of operations, utilizes a hologram model to explain to Under Secretary of the Army Nelson Ford the role the PEO plays in providing actionable intelligence to the warfighter during the AUSA annual conference. Photo by Brandon J. Pollachek
The 2008 Association of the United States Army (AUSA) annual conference in Washington D.C. held Oct. 6-8, once again served as an opportunity for the Army and industry to demonstrate the high technology soldiers are currently using including systems provided by the Program Executive Office for Intelligence, Electronic Warfare and Sensors (PEO IEW&S).
PEO IEW&S unveiled its new hologram display for the first time to the more than 32,000 military personnel, contractors and general public.
The state of the art display, which reminded many passers-by of a scene out of “Star Wars”, marked one of the many highlights of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisitions, Logistics and Technology enterprise displays which numerous senior officials visited.
During the three–day conference PEO IEW&S representatives explained the role the organization plays in providing systems which enables the transitioning of content acquired by numerous sensors and turning it into a context via the DCGA-S system which can become useful and actionable information for commanders. Amongst those whom were briefed with the aide of the hologram were Secretary of the Army, Pete Geren, and Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Acquisitions Logistics and Technology, Dean Popps, who were briefed by Brig. Gen. Thomas Cole, Program Executive Officer IEW&S. Under Secretary of the Army, Nelson Ford also visited the display and received a brief from Lt. Col. Jim Ross, PEO IEW&S director of operations.
“We provide actionable intelligence beyond the plethora of sensors and data available,” said Ross. “DCGS-A provides the analysis tools to quickly fuse this information into a relevant context for use in the Warfight. This new hologram offers a visual aide which encompasses many of the ISR assets that lead into DCGS-A.”
The system utilizes steam to project the image of a sphere full of Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) assets, individually highlighting numerous sensor platforms and demonstrating their link into DCGS-A.
“With 500 exhibits available this hologram offered us a great way to stand out,” said Ross. “The beauty of the system is that instead of being tied to presenting only one or two assets to people visiting our booth we are now able to describe an entire bevy of systems and demonstrate how they interact in a simple visual experience.”
The hologram, which cost approximately $25,000, offered numerous benefits over more traditional model displays that cost up $100,000. As the need to highlight different aspects of the PEO IEW&S mission change, a hologram offers the ability to quickly alter the story it tells and can be done repeatedly. The traditional model display is less flexible in its ability to change, and necessitates the purchasing of a new model whenever a change is needed, making older versions obsolete.
In addition to the hologram, many PEO IEW&S current and future systems were on display in the 500,000 square foot convention center. Industry partners had presentations on the EQ 36 Firefinder radar, Boomerang shot detection system, Aerial Common Sensor, DCGS-A, DUKE System and many others.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]