Persistent ISR at the Tactical Edge: You Need More Than AI to Counter Today's Threats

By Angelique X. Irvin

Despite massive investment and sweeping claims, defense and security artificial intelligence (AI) has yet to consistently deliver a decisive advantage. As technology evolves the days of better decision making is approaching, but it will require a different more holistic approach to problem solving. While the public narrative promotes instant superiority through AI-driven systems, operational reality—especially at the tactical edge—is far more complex. Cost considerations are critical, advanced ISR technology balances the need for cost-effective solutions that reduce both initial investment and longer-term operational cost. The true objectives of AI in combat environments—seamless integration, enhanced situational awareness, and operational trust—remain in a work in progress, not due to failure, but because mission success demands a systems-level approach beyond algorithms alone. Additionally, there is a growing demand for higher data processing capabilities and advanced sensor integration to meet the evolving needs of modern ISR operations.

 

At Clear Align, we’re advancing C5ISR capabilities with intelligent system design, agile software, and edge AI that fuses signals intelligence (SIGINT), sensor data, and human intelligence into real-time decision support. The history of overwhelming operators with fragmented sensor feeds and electronic warfare (EW) disruptions has shown that success requires more than simply deploying AI tools and systems within intelligence operations—it requires thoughtful integration of multiple sensors, edge computing, and command and control systems to extract actionable intelligence. In addition, the addition of new technological capabilities and supplementary modules to existing ISR systems is essential for improving performance and expanding functionality.

Introduction to Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR)

Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) form the backbone of modern military operations; the primary goal of ISR is to collect, analyze, and disseminate actionable intelligence about military threats—faster and more accurately. By leveraging distributed sensors across land, air, and space, ISR systems provide commanders with the insights needed to make informed decisions and maintain enhanced security in dynamic environments.

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) can transforme ISR capabilities, enabling the rapid analysis of large volumes of data from a wide range of sources, including aircraft, satellites, and ground-based sensors. T As operations span multiple domains, ISR’s ability to support command and control systems becomes even more important, delivering a decisive advantage and improving overall mission effectiveness. In today’s complex security landscape, ISR is not just about gathering information—it’s about using advanced technology to stay ahead of adversaries and protect critical assets.

Data Fusion at the Tactical Edge: Next Generation Systems

Next-generation data fusion is redefining how military forces operate at the tactical edge, where speed and accuracy are paramount. By combining data from distributed sensors, aircraft, and satellites, these advanced systems create a unified, real-time view of the battlespace. Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) are at the heart of this innovation, enabling the rapid identification of patterns, detection of anomalies, and prediction of potential threats—often before they fully materialize.

Operating at the tactical edge means that data fusion systems must deliver insights quickly, supporting mission effectiveness in environments where every second counts. Edge computing plays a vital role, allowing large volumes of data to be processed locally, reducing latency and enabling rapid decision-making without waiting for information to be sent back to centralized command centers. This approach not only accelerates response times but also ensures that critical intelligence is available where it’s needed most.

As military operations continue to evolve, the ability to fuse data from multiple sources and deliver actionable intelligence directly to command and control systems is becoming increasingly important. Next-generation data fusion empowers forces to operate with greater flexibility, adapt to emerging threats, and maintain a decisive advantage across all domains.

 

Edge Computing and Data Processing: Powering Real-Time Decisions

Edge computing is revolutionizing the way military operations manage and analyze data, providing the speed and agility needed to make real-time decisions in the most challenging environments. By processing data at the edge—close to where it is collected—commanders can rapidly identify patterns, detect signals, and respond to threats without the delays associated with sending data back to centralized locations. This is especially important in areas with limited connectivity or contested bandwidth, where every moment counts.

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) with edge computing enables the analysis of large, complex data sets, including sensor feeds, imagery, and signals intelligence. This powerful combination allows for the rapid detection of anomalies and the delivery of critical insights directly to decision-makers on the ground. As a result, military forces can operate faster, adapt to evolving threats, and improve mission effectiveness—often gaining a decisive advantage over adversaries.

As the demands of modern warfare continue to evolve, edge computing will remain a crucial enabler of real-time situational awareness and rapid response. By reducing bandwidth requirements and empowering local decision-making, edge computing ensures that military operations remain flexible, resilient, and ready to meet the challenges of tomorrow’s battles.

Data Fusion at the Tactical Edge; Next Generation Systems

As multi-domain operations redefine the modern battlefield, persistent surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) must evolve beyond passive collection. It must provide intelligence that is timely, relevant, and survivable in contested environments. Clear Align’s AI-enabled sensor systems combine edge computing, proprietary signal processing, and machine learning to analyze vast streams of open source data and secure ISR feeds. Advanced devices, such as edge devices and processing modules, are critical in ISR applications to enable high-speed data processing and sensor fusion. These ISR signal processing applications are designed to cover extensive operational areas, ensuring flexibility and scalability across diverse mission zones.

Our platforms don’t just send data—they process it. Through sensor fusion, we identify patterns in the electromagnetic spectrum, integrate human analyst feedback, and deliver predictive analytics that enhance force protection system performance. Real-time processing in these systems relies on high data speeds to support rapid analysis and decision-making. Our systems monitor distributed sensors and autonomously assess threats, empowering decision makers with intelligence that leads to action—not just observation.

AI, in isolation, solves nothing.

Over the past decade, investments in artificial intelligence and AI applications surged—often with the assumption that AI algorithms alone could deliver a strategic advantage. But in operational settings, systems built without sensor alignment, human workflow consideration, and data fusion discipline often result in noise, not insight. Accommodating different types of sensors, such as EO, IR, and RF, within flexible system architectures is essential for effective data fusion and operational success.

Integration: The Real Force Multiplier

What actually drives mission effectiveness is the integration of three critical components: best-in-class sensor systems, validated AI analytics, and embedded mission expertise. These are not interchangeable—they must work in concert. Integrated systems allow users to more easily analyze and act on intelligence, streamlining complex workflows and accelerating decision-making. A fault in any one element—whether sensor calibration, algorithmic misclassification, or UI disconnect—can jeopardize operational readiness.

We’ve seen the consequences: platforms flooding users with more data than they can process, AI misidentifying targets in electronic warfare scenarios, and autonomous platforms collapsing under real-world ambiguity. The lesson is clear: AI must be part of a coordinated system, not a standalone promise. The meaning and significance of integrating data from multiple sources lies in providing a comprehensive operational picture, which is crucial for effective and timely decision-making.

ISR at the tactical edge demands resilience—edge AI that performs without cloud connectivity, robust enough for EW systems, and agile enough to keep pace with emerging threats. We design systems that move at the speed of war, leveraging AI analytics to support mission-critical decisions under pressure. Integrated ISR systems are potentially transformative, enabling forces to adapt rapidly and counter sophisticated threats with greater agility.

 

No Shortcuts: Better Sensors Make Better AI

There’s a growing misconception in defense tech circles that AI is the great equalizer—that with the right algorithms, we can extract insight from any data stream, no matter the quality. This belief is not only misguided—it’s dangerous.

The truth is simple: superior sensor suites are what make AI truly effective. High-resolution optics, multi-band EO/IR, precision radar, and SWIR aren’t just optional hardware—they are foundational to the entire AI decision-making chain. Recent innovations in sensor technology, including advancements in FPGA and modular architectures, are driving new levels of adaptability and performance in ISR applications. The quality of the sensor data directly governs how well AI algorithms can perform target identification, track enemy movements, and deliver actionable intelligence in real time.

In ISR, better image quality equals better analysis. Algorithms cannot infer what they cannot see. Grainy feeds, poor contrast, or misaligned apertures severely limit the value of even the most sophisticated AI analytics. While AI can enhance, correlate, and prioritize, it cannot fabricate clarity or correct fundamental gaps in the sensor layer. The latest advancements in sensor and AI integration now enable more accurate and timely intelligence, leveraging cutting-edge hardware and software solutions.

Clear Align’s philosophy reflects this hard-earned lesson: there are no shortcuts. We design sensor systems with precision, durability, and context in mind—because the effectiveness of artificial intelligence hinges on the integrity of the data it consumes. This is especially true in contested environments, where degraded signals and denied networks leave no room for error. Advanced AI models are now being used to analyze complex datasets, improving prediction accuracy and operational efficiency even under challenging conditions.

Our systems fuse multiple sensors—EO, IR, radar, and SIGINT—into a synchronized operational picture, enabling real-time edge processing that supports decision makers with unprecedented situational awareness. We engineer hardware and AI together, not separately, to ensure the AI is not simply reacting to noise but is empowered by context-rich inputs it can interpret and act on with confidence. Starting from scratch with foundational data analysis techniques remains essential to identify relevant signals and ensure robust ISR performance.

 

ISR Use Cases: Turning Data into Decisions

Clear Align systems are operational across 27 countries, supporting national security initiatives and protecting warfighters. For example, our AI-enabled ISR solutions have been deployed in diverse operational environments to enhance data analysis, sensor fusion, and strategic warning capabilities. Real-world examples of use include:

• Border Surveillance: Along the U.S. Southwest and in overseas terrain, our AI-enabled ISR towers integrate short-wave infrared (SWIR) with predictive maintenance and machine learning for target recognition. In one corridor previously blind to legacy ISR, our system flagged enemy movements despite degraded GPS and low-visibility.

• Convoy Overwatch: For asymmetric threat environments, our platforms fuse EO/IR with radar to detect IED indicators and behavioral anomalies, enhancing situational awareness for force protection in high-value logistics missions.

• Critical Infrastructure Defense: At a Middle Eastern airbase, our AI applications reduced manual UAV classification by 83% through autonomous systems that integrate directly into command and control networks, improving electronic countermeasures and reducing false positives. These systems are capable of detecting significant events such as acts of aggression or crises that threaten critical infrastructure.

• Distributed ISR Grids: Supporting NATO and Five Eyes partners, our sensor fusion framework enables seamless integration across joint ISR systems—an essential capability for coordinated response in high-bandwidth, multi-threat theaters. This includes monitoring threats from Russia as part of global security efforts to anticipate and respond to disruptive activities.

• Maritime Domain Awareness: In the Indo-Pacific, our autonomous platforms identified high-speed vessels operating without transponders through real-time radar and AI-driven target identification—intercepted and verified by allied forces.

At present, ISR systems face challenges in managing vast and diverse sensor data, leveraging advanced processing architectures, and incorporating AI/ML for real-time intelligence and situational awareness. Each deployment undergoes rigorous test and validation processes to ensure performance, including signal integrity, material selection, and compliance with standards like SOSA and VITA 100. Thanks to modular upgrades and open architectures, deployment timelines have been reduced from years to just months, enabling rapid adaptation to emerging threats. Over the coming years, we expect significant improvements in ISR technology as AI systems become more powerful and further integrated into national security infrastructure.

Scaling Innovation Through Intellectual Property

Our growth stems from solving hard problems, not marketing hype. With over a dozen patents, our intellectual property includes optical and sensor integration methods, proprietary signal processing, and environmentally ruggedized components. Advanced data communication protocols are integral to our ISR systems, enabling reliable sensor data transmission and integration. These technologies support modular upgrades, higher bandwidth processing, and resilience under extreme operating conditions. Maryland serves as a hub for ISR technology development and collaboration, fostering regional expertise and innovation.

In one coastal ISR program, a novel sealant ensured sensor clarity after 500+ hours of salt fog. In another, our AI-enabled targeting module reduced operator workload by over 50% while maintaining a 96% accuracy rate—verified by human analysts, not just algorithms.

Systems That Think Like a Warfighter

Modern ISR isn’t about collecting more data—it’s about achieving greater speed, more precision, and enhanced security through tightly integrated systems. Our platforms are designed to make sense of large volumes of complex ISR data, enabling intelligent analysis and rapid identification of critical information.

• Predictive Maintenance: AI monitors calibration cycles, sensor drift, and failure risk.

• Edge AI Algorithms: Onboard processors classify threats before data ever leaves the node.

• Modular Upgrades: Field-swappable components extend platform lifespan.

• Open Source Data Integration: Multinational interoperability for shared targeting data.

• EW Resilience: Designs hardened for the electromagnetic spectrum and electronic attack.

Building True Intelligence

Clear Align doesn’t sell AI—we deliver intelligence. On the modern battlefield, clarity and speed are everything. Our C5ISR platforms provide decision makers with the insights they need, when and where it matters most. From submarine detection to force protection, our systems enhance operational readiness and deliver a measurable strategic advantage.

We are building ISR systems that work like the human brain—analyzing context, integrating inputs, and acting fast. Because the real value of AI is not in the code—it’s in the mission outcome and success.