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A nation cannot fight successfully without detailed and accurate knowledge of its potential enemies. When an Air Force crew is directed on an attack mission, it is neither prudent nor cost effective to simply fly to an area, select a target by observation and expend ordinance. The ESM/Imaging sensor combination will significantly contribute to the ability to be decisive in the event of conflict. The synergism of Tactical ESM data provided from a stand-off location and the high resolution image data provided from a stand-off location or overflight results in a sustained reconnaissance capability that can be used through all phases of military operation from peace time surveillance through actual combat operations. From stand-off ranges in excess of 200 nautical miles, the tactical ESM sensor will provide cues concerning the disposition, composition, and movement of adversaries through the interception of electromagnetic emissions. The cues can be used by the reconnaissance aircrew: (1) to swiftly focus a stand-off imaging sensor on the area of interest from ranges in excess of 50 nautical miles or (2) provide general target location and optimum ingress/egress route information for target overflight imaging. Therefore, the timely cuing and identification data provided by the Tactical ESM sensor will be combined with verification, positive ID, blind bombing accuracy data obtained from imaging sensors. Thus optimum results will be obtained by using cuing and verification sensors to provide timely, positive identification and accurate target locations. The synergism of Tactical ESM and imaging sensors will be particularly effective in the critical 20 - 300 kilometer region from a political border or forward edge of a battle area (FEBA). Limited ESM imaging sensor synergism' has already been operationally employed using the Tactical Electronic Reconnaissance Sensor (TEREC) for cuing and the UPD-4 Side Looking Radar (SLR) for verification. Although this synergism was performed manually, the basic utility of the concept was verified.
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