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The Air Force just announced that it is developing a new video sensor, as well as creating 2,500 analyst positions for gathering and interpreting the increase in aerial surveillance data coming from the warfront. Lt. Gen. David Deptula, the Air Force’s deputy chief of staff for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (and GEOINT 2009 speaker), said the new program, called “Gorgon Stare,” will provide a much broader video picture, measuring about 2.5 miles square, from unmanned aircraft. This news comes on the heels of Defense Secretary Robert Gates calling for a substantial increase in such aircraft systems in Afghanistan to provide critically needed intelligence for U.S. troops and their allies. Learn more about the new sensor here.

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Yesterday, the House Subcommittee on Homeland Security held a hearing called “Homeland Security Intelligence: Its Relevance and Limitations,” which consisted of law enforcement and and members of the ACLU discussing the need for better sharing of information in homeland security efforts. A key part of the hearing was on DHS’ “Intelligence Fusion Centers”. For those not familiar with these fusion centers, they were set up by the Bush administration (about 70 total in the U.S.), run by DHS and serve as areas where local law enforcement can share information with federal authorities on potential threat activities.

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The hunt for the elusive Osama bin Laden seems to be the biggest challenge for defense and intelligence sources. However, it seems that we are honing in on him. According to a recent USA Today article, he is most likely hiding out in a walled compound in a Pakistani border town. The source for this story is a research team led by geographer Thomas Gillespie of the University of California-Los Angeles. Here’s the link to the actual report in the MIT Review.

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