US Air Force Seeks Advanced AI, Cloud, and Cybersecurity for Intelligence Platforms

The U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Information Directorate has launched the Resilient Analytic Platforms for Intelligence Delivery (RAPID) program, seeking industry collaboration to enhance intelligence operations through advanced AI, cloud computing, and cybersecurity. This initiative, outlined in an advanced research announcement (FA8750-26-S-7001), aims to develop sophisticated tools for information sharing, common operating environments, and a robust cyber-secure framework for intelligence analysis.

The core objective of RAPID is to create cloud computing solutions that automate processing workflows, standardize data, and integrate existing intelligence into consolidated, cyber-resilient dashboards. This will enable the delivery of tailored, customer-specific intelligence and analytic capabilities, fortified with advanced cybersecurity measures. The program seeks to facilitate access to a wide array of data sources, including satellite imagery, open-source intelligence, cyber-generated data from network traffic and malware analysis, signals intelligence (SIGINT), human intelligence, and legacy enterprise repositories.

Key areas of improvement targeted by RAPID include intelligence fusion and latency reduction, aiming to integrate diverse sensor and intelligence data for timely and actionable insights. This involves developing new analytic techniques, standardized data formats, edge processing, and secure cloud computing. The program also focuses on geospatial-intelligence correlation, leveraging AI and machine learning to automate analysis, improve information extraction, and enhance cyber threat detection. Furthermore, RAPID addresses combined intelligence data management, secure system integration, vulnerability management for weapon systems, and the development of assured and resilient cloud computing environments to ensure high levels of security and efficiency for critical information systems.