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
Tiberius Aerospace achieves world-first with howitzer launched liquid-fuelled ramjet

Defence

Tiberius Aerospace achieves world-first with howitzer launched liquid-fuelled ramjet

22 April 2026

Tiberius Aerospace has successfully demonstrated, for the first time, that a liquid-fuelled ramjet projectile can be launched from a NATO standard 155mm howitzer, achieve ramjet ignition and perform as intended in flight.

Babcock returns HMS Queen Elizabeth to operational readiness

Defence

Babcock returns HMS Queen Elizabeth to operational readiness

22 April 2026

Babcock International Group (Babcock), the defence company, has returned the Royal Navy’s flagship aircraft carrier, HMS Queen Elizabeth, to operational readiness following completion of a planned maintenance programme at Rosyth.

Roke introduces CORTEXA GUARDIAN

Defence Events

Roke introduces CORTEXA GUARDIAN

21 April 2026

Roke has introduced its new, advanced Counter UAS (C-UAS), CORTEXA GUARDIAN to the market, following the system's development with armed forces and mission partners across the UK and Northern Europe.

Anotec achieves AS9100 certification

Aerospace Defence

Anotec achieves AS9100 certification

20 April 2026

Surface coating specialist Anotec has enhanced its position in the aerospace and defence sectors by achieving the AS9100 certification.

Advertisement
ODU RT
Securitas appoints Alan Rae as Area Director for UK North and BAE Systems

Defence Security

Securitas appoints Alan Rae as Area Director for UK North and BAE Systems

20 April 2026

Securitas UK has announced the appointment of Alan Rae to the newly created and expanded role of Area Director for UK North and BAE Systems.

Vision Engineering appoints Harry Curtis as Technical Director

Aerospace Defence

Vision Engineering appoints Harry Curtis as Technical Director

17 April 2026

Woking headquartered Vision Engineering Group, provider of ergonomic microscopy and metrology solutions, has announced the appointment of Harry Curtis to the position of Technical Director, effective 1st April 2026.

Advertisement
ODU RT
Advertisement
FIA2026 animated banner