8 Defense Sensors Used in Military Applications

Modern military operations are leveraging technology in new ways to provide vital battlefield information, including:

• Detecting and identifying threats
• Enhancing situational awareness
• Enabling precision targeting and sensor-enabled kill-webs
• Protecting troops from hazardous threats, such as chemical and biological attacks

While certain sensors have existed for a long time, there have been considerable advances over the past few years, including miniaturization and intelligence capabilities. So, let’s look at eight types of defense sensors in use today, along with common applications for each.

Eight Different Types of Defense Sensors

1. Radar Sensors

By transmitting pulses and capturing the reflection of radio waves, radar sensors can detect and track aircraft, missiles, ships, and ground vehicles. Applications include air defense systems, missile guidance, and perimeter security. For example, ground-based radar systems can provide early warning for incoming missiles.

There are several different types of radar sensors, including:

• Active electronically scanned area: This is a phased array system with a steerable beam that can scan faster than conventional radar systems. Using multiple antennae with separate transmitters and receivers, it can operate on numerous frequencies simultaneously, making it hard to jam or detect.
• Synthetic aperture radar: This provides broader spatial resolution. Typically mounted on an aircraft or satellite, it is especially useful for seeing through conditions that obstruct other types of sensors, such as dense trees or weather conditions.
• Portable radar: Ground forces can rapidly deploy small, lightweight radars for battlefield awareness to detect and track potential threats.

2. Infrared Sensors

Infrared sensors detect heat signatures, making identifying vehicles, equipment, or personnel easier. This technology is frequently used for surveillance, night vision, and targeting systems, such as thermal imaging cameras in uncrewed aerial vehicles.

Nanotechnology is enabling more compact and sensitive devices, making infrared sensors more portable and easier to deploy in the field.

3. Acoustic Sensors

Acoustic sensors capture sound waves to help detect and classify threats. This is particularly useful in active military operations, where the goal is to distinguish among conflicting sounds from aircraft or drones and determine threat levels.

Ukraine has a network of nearly 10,000 acoustic sensors that have proven highly effective in detecting aerial threats. During a recent Hudson Institute event, Army LTG Stephen Gainey said that this low-cost technology has significant benefits.

Other applications include battlefield gunfire localization or submarine detection.

4. Electro-Optical Sensors

Electro-optical sensors continue to evolve, providing improved situational awareness. They convert light (or changes in light levels) into electronic signals, enabling them to detect electromagnetic radiation to find and track objects across the spectrum.

These sensors are typically mounted on high-resolution satellite cameras and are useful in missile guidance, reconnaissance, and surveillance drones. They can provide real-time imagery on the battlefield, helping locate and track targets and guiding precision munitions with high accuracy.

5. Magnetic Sensors

Magnetic sensors detect changes in magnetic fields that are caused by metallic objects. Unlike radar systems, magnetic sensors do not emit a signal, making them harder to detect when in operation. They can be deployed on ships, aircraft, ground vehicles, and certain handheld devices.

Use cases include:

• Submarine detection
• Landmine or underwater mine detection
• Identification of unexploded ordnance
• Vehicle tracking through magnetic signatures
• Navigation and positioning, especially in areas with poor GPS access

6. Chemical and Biological Sensors

Sensors for chemical and biological agents are proving incredibly valuable for battlefield safety, WMD monitoring, and counter-terrorism efforts. One example is an upgrade to the M1135 Stryker reconnaissance vehicle, which will be outfitted with a sensor capable of detecting:

• Chemical vapors
• Chemical agents
• Radiological and nuclear signatures
• Standoff aerosol clouds
• Biological agents

Chemical and biological sensors can also be portable for rapid battlefield deployment.

7. Lidar Sensors

Light detection and ranging (lidar) uses lasers rather than radio waves found in radar units to measure distances and map environments. It excels at object classification and can distinguish different types of objects, aiding in mission planning, navigation, obstacle avoidance, and target tracking.

For example, lidar-equipped drones are being used for real-time 3D mapping in combat zones. This provides ground forces with better intelligence about the battlefield while helping them avoid obstacles. Lidar data is also used in simulation and training programs, integrated with virtual reality and augmented reality to create more realistic scenarios in an immersive training environment.

However, there are a few downsides. Lidar has a shorter effective range than radar, and its performance degrades in heavy rain, snow, or fog.

8. Quantum Sensors

Quantum computers are developing at a staggeringly fast rate, providing new opportunities and potential threats. The 2022 CHIPS and Science Act authorized new investments in core quantum research, and the US military announced $3 billion in quantum projects. This technology can be used in defense to process large amounts of data faster, creating more secure channels for communications and quantum sensing, such as detecting enemy submarines, mines, camouflaged vehicles, and rotating machinery through walls.

Quantum gravimeters can be used for underwater surveillance to detect underground structures, such as caves, bunkers, or missile silos. They also offer highly sensitive and accurate measurement, which has the potential—along with accelerometers and gyroscopes—to replace GPS.

Advanced Analytics and Interoperability in Enhancing Sensor Performance

Integrating artificial intelligence and sensor technology improves speed, accuracy, and predictive capabilities.

AI and Machine Learning

AI algorithms enable real-time processing, which is crucial for defense sensors handling mass amounts of data, where the speed of response is mission-critical. AI systems can quickly analyze data, filter out noise, and identify necessary actions.

Machine learning continues model training to improve performance as more data is acquired, helping to minimize false positives for better situational awareness.

Predictive Intelligence

A crucial component of AI is predictive intelligence. AI can quickly identify troop movements or unusual behavior by analyzing patterns and anomalies in sensor data. For example, AI-integrated infrared and lidar sensors can predict adversarial intent based on heat signatures and historical movement patterns.

System Interoperability and Deep Sensing

Combining data from multiple sensors provides an enhanced picture of battlefield conditions. Radar, chemical, and infrared sensors can work together to detect and respond to complex threats, such as missiles carrying chemical agents.

Sensor systems were generally single use in the past. In the future, sensors will need to talk to each other and work autonomously to provide accurate intelligence.

This interoperability is crucial for deep sensing, which involves analyzing data from satellite imagery, ground-based radar systems, uncrewed aerial vehicles, and underwater sensors to fully understand an operational environment. Multiple sensors with multiple demands can map more transparent battlefields for real-time information.

Government Program Leaders Need Trusted Partners

Continued development in sensors and computing is crucial to our nation’s armed services to achieve operational excellence and realize mission objectives. Success depends on partners with the experience and expertise to harness cutting-edge technology for modern military applications.

Sumaria Systems is a reliable and trusted industry partner offering AI services that include advisory, assistance, and advanced analytics. With over forty years of experience, Sumaria has steadily improved its analytic capabilities with AI through research and development. DOD leaders can make rapid, well-informed decisions and gain a competitive edge by expertly leveraging high-quality data, advanced analytics, and AI.