Forge Institute and Air Force Research Lab (AFRL) to collaborate on the advancement of analytic methods for publicly available information to support operations in the Information Environment

Collaboration will enable the discovery and development of methods to improve analytic capabilities using publicly available information.

Forge Institute, recognized for pioneering private-public partnerships in the national defense arena, is proud to announce a multi-year Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the Information Directorate of the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL). This strategic alliance will focus on the advancement of analytic techniques for publicly available information (PAI), which are integral to enhancing the Air Force's cyber resilience and intelligence capabilities. This could potentially reshape the landscape of future Air Force multi-domain operations.

This collaboration underscores the U.S. Military Strategy that places PAI and artificial intelligence (AI) at the core of maintaining a strategic edge across all warfare levels. It is a timely response to the evolving technology landscape, where software, hardware, data fusion ecosystems, and the open-source community offer significant opportunities to upgrade multi-domain operations across air, space, and cyber domains. The fusion of PAI analytics with machine learning and pattern recognition could potentially augment Air Force mission effectiveness and provide sophisticated intelligence in all domains.

Key collaborations will be centered around the 188th Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group (188th ISRG) of the Arkansas Air National Guard 188th Wing at Ebbing Air National Guard Base, Fort Smith, Arkansas. Colonel Michael Martin, commander of the 188th ISRG, affirmed that associations like the one with the Forge Institute give the Air Force the opportunity to leverage next-gen digital tools like robotic process automation, AI, and cloud capabilities to improve analytic methods.

Highlighting the strategic importance of this partnership, Brigadier General Olen C. Bridges, the Arkansas Adjutant General, added “private-public collaborations, like the one with Forge Institute, are essential for offering state-of-the-art capabilities to Arkansas' military missions. We're always looking for a competitive advantage on the ground, in the air, or in cyberspace to provide leaders the best information for decision making. Partnerships like these are what makes the Arkansas National Guard the premier destination for Arkansas' best and brightest minds.”

As part of the CRADA, the Air Force and the Forge Institute will share their expertise in PAI analytics to understand and develop advanced analytic methods, thereby integrating training, AI, and next-gen cloud capabilities.

Lee Watson, Chairman and CEO of the Forge Institute, asserted, "This CRADA with the AFRL will spark innovative exchanges that support our warfighters and stimulate economic growth in Arkansas. We are proud to serve the United States Air Force and the Intelligence Community in advancing capabilities for national security."

Key Facts

●      Forge Institute signs Cooperative Research & Development Agreement (CRADA) with Air Force Research Lab (AFRL) to support research and development of new capabilities to analyze and exploit Publicly Available Information (PAI).

●      CRADA will enable innovative exchanges and capability development for the 188th ISRG, an Arkansas Air National Guard Unit at Ebbing Air National Guard Base.

●      Collaborations will support Arkansas military capabilities in Information Warfare.