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
Leonardo animated rectangle

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
General Atomics LB
Saab opens UK site to support British Army training

Defence

Saab opens UK site to support British Army training

19 December 2025

Saab UK has opened a new site in South West England dedicated to its Training & Simulation business unit. This expansion strengthens Saab’s ability to deliver advanced training solutions to the British Army.

Patria and Germany sign two contracts within CAVS programme

Defence

Patria and Germany sign two contracts within CAVS programme

19 December 2025

Patria and Germany have concluded two procurement contracts within the Common Armoured Vehicle System (CAVS) programme.

Top Australian and UK universities sign AUKUS innovation pact

Defence

Top Australian and UK universities sign AUKUS innovation pact

18 December 2025

Eight Australian and UK universities have become the founding members of a new Advanced Skills Alliance, to fast-track the skills and research needed to build security, defence and resilience capabilities.

Dstl leads on NATO emerging disruptive tech competition

Defence

Dstl leads on NATO emerging disruptive tech competition

18 December 2025

The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) is leading a NATO research project called ‘Youth Perspective on Emerging and Disruptive Technologies’.

Advertisement
ODU RT
STS Defence awarded SDA contract for SCHM Phase 2

Defence

STS Defence awarded SDA contract for SCHM Phase 2

18 December 2025

STS Defence has been awarded a contract to further develop and demonstrate software algorithms for the Submarine Delivery Agency (SDA), following on from a previous Phase 1 project investigating Sensor Channel Health Monitoring (SCHM).

ESS and Royal Navy win Institute for Collaborative Working’s Chairman’s Award

Defence Events

ESS and Royal Navy win Institute for Collaborative Working’s Chairman’s Award

17 December 2025

Specialist provider of Facilities Management (FM) and foodservice to military establishments across the UK, ESS Defence, together with the Royal Navy, have won this year’s Institute for Collaborative Working Chairman’s Award.

Advertisement
Leonardo animated rectangle
Advertisement
General Atomics LB