Advancing UK Aerospace, Defence, Security & Space Solutions Worldwide
  • Home
  • /
  • Defence
  • /
  • BAE Systems to advance autonomous tech for automatic target recognition

Defence

BAE Systems to advance autonomous tech for automatic target recognition

BAE Systems is to develop tightly integrated machine learning software as part of the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Multi-Sensor Exploitation for Tactical Autonomy (META) programme.

Image courtesy BAE Systems

New contract enhances BAE Systems’ extensive autonomy portfolio and 20-year history pioneering autonomy technology.

The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) awarded BAE Systems a $7.8 million contract to develop tightly integrated machine learning software as part of the Multi-Sensor Exploitation for Tactical Autonomy (META) programme. This technology will enable advanced situational awareness and automatic target recognition (ATR).

Advertisement
ODU RT

Under the terms of the award, BAE Systems’ FAST Labs research and development organisation will provide Environmentally Adaptive Geospatial Learning and Exploitation, an innovative suite of machine learning and fusion algorithms. The system integrates multiple elements of the company’s extensive autonomy portfolio to provide high confidence detection, tracking, identification and intent understanding for critical mobile targets in contested environments, including targets under camouflage, concealment and deception.

“With the addition of environmentally adaptive processing, this solution bridges a critical gap in machine learning,” said Mark Kolba, program manager for BAE Systems’ FAST Labs. “Providing local situational awareness and human-like context of environmental conditions will greatly reduce false alarms.”

BAE Systems develops autonomous data exploitation capabilities for systems and sensors for potential use in US military operations across air and space domains. The programme builds on the success of the company’s Multi-intelligence ATR for Geospatial Intelligence Capabilities technology that was successfully developed through AFRL’s Study of Emerging Exploitation Developments programme.

Advertisement
ODU RT

The software enhances BAE Systems’ extensive autonomy portfolio and 20-year history pioneering autonomy technology.

 

Advertisement
FIA2026 animated banner
UK MoD-industry exercise to test defence supply chains under war conditions

Defence Events

UK MoD-industry exercise to test defence supply chains under war conditions

29 April 2026

A major Ministry of Defence (MoD) wargame involving five major defence companies will be taking place this week, testing how supply chains would perform under the pressure of sustained, large-scale conflict.

MDP appoints Simon Dobinson as Deputy Chief Constable

Defence Security

MDP appoints Simon Dobinson as Deputy Chief Constable

29 April 2026

Following the appointment of Chief Constable Kier Pritchard in January, the Ministry of Defence Police (MDP) has appointed Simon Dobinson as their new Deputy Chief Constable.

BAE Systems

Defence

BAE Systems' NavGuide GPS receiver enters production

29 April 2026

BAE Systems has entered production and begun initial deliveries of its NavGuide GPS receiver.

Teledyne FLIR unveils enhanced Third-Party Payload Integration Program

Defence Events

Teledyne FLIR unveils enhanced Third-Party Payload Integration Program

29 April 2026

Teledyne FLIR Defense unveiled its expanded Third-Party Payload Integration Program at Modern Day Marine 2026, with the certification of Emesent’s Hovermap LiDAR Payload.

Advertisement
ODU RT
Roke launches collaboration initiative to advance defence interoperability

Defence

Roke launches collaboration initiative to advance defence interoperability

28 April 2026

Roke has launched 'Works with Roke', a new ecosystem designed to bring together technology partners, suppliers and integrators to accelerate the development and deployment of defence capability.

ARX Robotics and Supacat forge UK partnership

Defence

ARX Robotics and Supacat forge UK partnership

28 April 2026

ARX Robotics has today announced a strategic partnership with UK defence mobility specialist Supacat to advance the development, integration and deployment of robotic and autonomous capabilities for land forces.

Advertisement
ODU RT
Advertisement
FIA2026 animated banner