GSS EU Science Funding Gateway

The EU Member States and EDF associated countries (Norway) already own or are developing a variety of high-end sensor equipment and weapon systems for defence against challenging targets. However, in most cases even at national level and most importantly at European level, existing systems still follow stand-alone concepts, that is not considering fusion of data from distributed networks of sensors and especially not cooperation between sensors. An integrated sensor network solution should encompass passive and active surveillance techniques based on different types of sensors working in different bands of the electro-magnetic spectrum (electro-optical and radio frequency) in order to collect information in a broad spectrum.

The architecture framework must be capable of integrating radar sensors and it should be capable of integrating other types of sensors such as electro-optical, acoustic or others with various modes of operation, such as ground-based and airborne, passive and active, stationary and mobile. The proposals may not include efforts on the integration of space assets that would create unnecessary duplications with ongoing and planned projects but may prepare the future combination of the different research and development results in the future.

The proposals should include aspects of flexible architectures and dynamic asset and resource management for real-time planning of sensor grids adaptable to different tasks, threats and situations. The proposals may not address the development of new sensors.

The proposals should address aspects of data exchange and data fusion between sensors and command centres. The proposals may provide the creation and maintenance of a shared common picture of available sensors and effectors.

The proposals must address surveillance tasks and tracking and aim at improved accuracy of threat detection, tracking and classification of targets. Activities proposed may extend to the field of fire control to advanced effectors in a network. The proposals must be suited to support Integrated Air & Missile Defence (IAMD) operations. Additionally, the proposed architecture framework should be capable of addressing other types of targets or domains of application (e.g. drone detection, swarm detection).

The proposals must address cybersecurity aspects as integral part of the architecture consideration.