Fiscal Year	2018
Division	Graduate School of Operational & Information Sciences
Department	Defense Analysis
Investigator(s)	Budden, Nancy A.
Sponsor	Office of the Secretary of Defense, Rapid Reaction Technology Office (DoD)
Summary	NSW Halo Beacon is an effort to design and develop a prototype mid-wave infrared (MWIR) halo beacon to enable covert signaling at extended ranges by joint forces without counter-detection by adversary forces. Innovative approaches will be combined to create a capability not otherwise available through current beacon technology. The objective is to be able to signal, leveraging existing imaging systems while avoiding detection by adversaries with near-infrared imagers like night vision goggles. What current problem does this project address? Night vision goggles are widely proliferated, making standard near-infrared beacons easily detectable by adversaries. Existing MWIR sources are too weak to be useful. The warfighter requires a beacon that supports SOF maritime operations at operationally relevant range. This capability provides a ruggedized, maritime beacon for SOF operations with extended ranges for US forces, while minimizing counter-detection by adversaries. This effort accomplishes technology development, government oversight, warfighter engagement, rapid transition, program management, execution, and teaching of advanced technologies for Naval Special Warfare (NSW), MARSOC (Marine Special Forces Command), USASOC (U.S. Army Special Forces Command), and JSOC (Joint Special Operations Command), and Theater Special Operations Commands.
Keywords	Beacon Hailing Mid-Wave IR Naval Special Warfare (NSW) Navy Special Operations Technology
Publications	Publications, theses (not shown) and data repositories will be added to the portal record when information is available in FAIRS and brought back to the portal
Data	Publications, theses (not shown) and data repositories will be added to the portal record when information is available in FAIRS and brought back to the portal