Aerial Common Sensor

Definition/Scope: The Aerial Common Sensor (ACS) is intended to detect enemy troop movements, intercept enemy communications and radar transmissions and communicate other aircraft. The ACS was to enhance the Army?s Future Combat System and replace the Army?s aging Airborne Reconnaissance-Low and Guardrail Common Sensor fleets. The ACS concept of operations rests on having aircraft equipped with various sensor payloads overhead with a handful of analysts onboard. Armed with computer power and an information-sharing network, the analysts can "team" with other aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles in order to exploit enemy information. Providing this capability is the Army program, Distributed Common Ground Station-Army. Built of software, computers and communications networks, DCGS-A provides tools that allow analysts to gather intelligence data from multiple sources and convert it into analytical products for delivery to the network of Army battle command applications. Originally terminated in early 2006 it was reinstated in March 2007. ACS is a responsive worldwide, self-deployable, airborne Reconnaissance, Surveillance, Targeting and Acquisition/Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance system capable of providing real-time sensor-to-shooter information. The ACS initiative will merge and improve the capabilities of the Army?s Guardrail Common Sensor and Airborne Reconnaissance Low systems into a single multifunction platform, and eventually replace those legacy airborne ISR systems. (FM 3-36) The aerial common sensor is the Army’s programmed airborne intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance system. It will replace the current RC-7 airborne reconnaissance-low and Guardrail common sensor programs. The aerial common sensor uses the operational and technical legacies of the airborne reconnaissance-low and Guardrail common sensor systems as well as some technological improvements. This sensor will then provide a single, effective, and supportable multiple-intelligence system for the Army. The aerial common sensor will include a full multiple-intelligence capability, including carrying signals intelligence payloads, electro-optic and infrared sensors, radar payloads, and hyperspectral sensors.

Acronym:

ACS

Broader Terms:

Future Combat System
Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance

Narrower Terms:

Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance
RQ-4 Global Hawk

Related Terms:

airborne reconnaissance low
EA-6B Prowler
electronic warfare
Guardrail Common Sensor
RC-12N
sensor