138th Field Artillery Brigade Incorporates Artificial Intelligence

By CW4 Joseph P. Lyddane, 138th Field Artillery Brigade Targeting Officer

November 1, 2024 | Field Artillery, 2024 E-Edition

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MAJ Tyler Brown, CW4 Jody Lyddane, SSG Matthew Beverly, SSG Earnest Cansler III and SSG Zane Caudill pose for a team photo at the Combined Air & Space Operations Center, Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar. (Photo By LTC Carla Raisler, Kentucky National Guard Public Affairs Office.)

DOHA, Qatar - In the current landscape, the term artificial intelligence (AI) pervades virtually every facet of our daily lives. It is being used in autonomous driving vehicles, enhanced facial recognition software and optimizing marketing and social media campaigns. The military is starting to see the advantages of machine learning on land, sea, air, space and cyber domains.

The evolution of technology and the incorporation of non-conventional tactics on the battlefield require similar innovation and creativity.

The 138th Field Artillery Brigade (FAB), supporting Operation Spartan Shield and Operation Inherent Resolve during FY23-24, was leveraging AI in their daily battle rhythm under the directive of the United States Central Command (CENTCOM). The Maven Smart System (MSS) by Palantir along with National Geospatial Agency (NGA) Broad Area Search - Targeting (BAS-T) uses AI generated algorithms and memory learning capabilities to scan and identify enemy systems in the area of responsibility (AOR). Data is extrapolated from various intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance systems to provide the analyst with Named Areas of Interest (NAI). MAVEN’s BAS–T capability allows the analyst to narrow their search sector by concentrating on specific locations and ruling out others, necessities when time is of the essence.

The speed at which a hostile target can be detected is crucial to the remaining steps of the targeting cycle (Decide,Detect,Deliver, Assess).

The 138th FAB was embedded at the Combined Air & Space Operations Center (CAOC) Al Udeid Air Force Base, Qatar as a Lethal Fires Element (LFE) consisting of five individuals who were collocated with the Maven Field Service Representative (FSR). This allowed them to maximize the functionality of the program and recommend changes to current software to tailor it to Field Artillery operations.

Positive target identification (PID) is at the forefront of the targeting process. The speed at which a hostile target can be detected is crucial to the remaining steps of the targeting cycle (Decide, Detect, Deliver, Assess). AI is able to assist by filtering specific user defined parameters, sifting through large amounts of data, extracting what is relevant and providing analysts like Staff Sergeant Zane Caudill, an intelligence analyst for the 138th FAB, with near-real time data that is used by the operations community for validation against the commander’s objective. Once confirmed, the information can be interfaced with existing Army Mission Command Systems like the Advanced Field Artillery Tactical Data System (AFATDS) to generate fire missions.

Maven is a joint tool which allowed the 138th FAB LFE to pass digital information from AFCENT to the FAB fire control element located at the Joint Training Center in Jordan. Additionally, Maven provided the commander, Colonel Steve Mattingly, with a common operating picture (COP) used for situational awareness to assist him in making informed decisions.

AI will continue to impact the battle space, whether through autonomous weapon systems, cyber security protocols or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV). It is transforming the way we operate, the way we respond and impacting mission planning and resource allocation. The use of AI will continue to expand possibilities for the Armed Forces and is potentially the key technology to ensure the U.S. Military remains strategically, operationally and tactically prepared.