HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — CFD Research has been awarded a $1.8 million contract from the U.S. Air Force to develop an AI-driven framework that improves the speed, reliability, and efficiency of infrared-based systems used to detect and track airborne targets.
Modern air defense depends on the ability to find and follow threats quickly and quietly. Infrared Search and Track (IRST) systems do this by sensing the heat signatures of aircraft and other airborne targets without emitting signals that could reveal their presence to an adversary. While this gives them a significant advantage over radar, these systems still struggle to perform consistently across changing environmental conditions, are constrained by limited training data, and must operate within the strict size, weight, and power limits of airborne platforms. The result is a capability gap between what these systems need to do and what current technology can reliably deliver.
To close that gap, CFD Research is developing a comprehensive, AI-powered framework that addresses each stage of the detection and tracking process, from generating high-quality synthetic training data to detecting and tracking targets in real time, to streamlining the pipeline that keeps the system current as new data becomes available. The framework is designed from the ground up to run efficiently on the compact, power-limited hardware found on operational airborne platforms, making it practical for real-world Air Force use rather than just laboratory demonstration.
“The challenge with IRST isn’t just building a system that works, it’s building one that works consistently on limited hardware, across the full range of conditions it will actually encounter,” said Jackson Cornelius, Manager in the Intelligence, Software, and Sensing Division at CFD Research. “This framework is designed to meet that bar, bringing the latest advances in AI to a capability the Air Force depends on.”
This work supports the Air Force’s broader effort to integrate advanced AI and machine learning into operational defense systems, improving the speed and accuracy of threat detection while reducing the burden on human operators. The tools and methods developed through this program are designed for direct integration into Air Force workflows, accelerating the path from research to operational impact.
*This material is based upon work supported by the United States Air Force under Contract No. FA2377-25-C-B014. Any opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the United States Air Force.
About CFD Research:
Founded in 1987, CFD Research is a 100% employee-owned (ESOP) engineering and technology firm specializing in advanced capabilities across hypersonics, artificial intelligence & machine learning (AI/ML), sensing, power & energy, electronics, health & human performance, and space. The company develops and commercializes cutting-edge multi-physics simulation software, component and system technology prototypes, multidisciplinary analyses, and expert support services. This work has earned multiple national awards, along with recognition on the Inc. 5000 list six times in the past seven years. Headquartered in Huntsville, Alabama, with facilities in Dayton, OH, Hollywood, AL, and Fort Walton Beach, FL, CFD Research is CMMC Level 2 Enterprise Certified, ISO 9001:AS9100D registered, and CMMI Level II appraised for Services. Learn more at www.cfd-research.com.
