The metropolitan airspace of Washington, D.C. features an integrated air defense system implemented after the September 11, 2001, attacks. This system, which combines cameras and lasers, is being upgraded with artificial intelligence technology, according to the Department of Defense. The new system, named Enhanced Regional Situational Awareness (ERSA), employs advanced cameras with visual recognition and identification capabilities, operated by the Eastern Air Defense Sector (EADS) from Rome, New York.
As explained by Air Force Master Sergeant Kendrick Wilburn, capabilities and requirements officer at the Joint Air Defense Operations Center (JADOC) at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, this system allows for more precise radar data validation. “If we need to confirm radar data we can’t identify with certainty, we can use the cameras as an additional resource to validate the process,” Wilburn said.
Technical features of the ERSA system
The system includes cameras with standard optical views and infrared capabilities, manufactured by the technology company Teleidoscope. These cameras, which replace those installed in 2002, offer significant improvements over the previous ones. “We now have an extended range and have moved from standard definition to high definition. The fidelity is incredible,” noted Wilburn. He also highlighted features like infrared colorization and RGB filters that enhance objects based on their thermal signature.
The system also incorporates a laser rangefinder to measure the altitude and distance of objects, along with machine learning elements for improved auto-tracking and locking modes. “The system tries to identify what it believes the target is, and the operator can adjust or override that identification,” Wilburn explained, adding that the more the function is used, the more accurate it becomes.
Integration of new functionalities
The ERSA system includes a visual warning system, which uses lasers to illuminate the cockpits of non-compliant aircraft. This mechanism is designed to alert aircraft out of contact with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) or those not following their assigned flight plan. “When pilots see the red-green laser, they know they must change course away from the restricted zone and immediately contact the FAA,” Wilburn explained. This prevents the deployment of military aircraft, a much more costly alternative.
Selection and deployment process
Teleidoscope’s cameras were chosen following an evaluation process in 2022, where air defense operators tested prototypes from three companies. According to Marine Corps Major Nicholas Ksiazek of the Defense Innovation Unit, Teleidoscope’s software offered significant improvements. “That system felt like a real upgrade, whereas the others were more like a refresh,” he stated.
The system’s implementation was expedited thanks to funding from the Air Force’s Accelerate the Procurement and Fielding of Innovative Technologies (APFIT) program. To date, two operational cameras have been installed, and the team plans to add seven per year moving forward.
The ERSA system optimizes aerial surveillance in the Washington, D.C., area, enhancing the ability to identify threats and reduce operational costs. “The quality of the current system is comparable to the technological leap we saw between a 2011 iPhone and a current one,” Ksiazek concluded.
These innovations strengthen security in one of the most sensitive areas of U.S. airspace, marking a significant advancement in air defense.
