The U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) has issued a new funding opportunity under its Sensing Operation Using Prediction (SOUP) program, an initiative designed to accelerate AI technologies that enhance military intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR).

Posted to SAM.gov on April 14, the solicitation outlines a range of several core objectives for SOUP: developing novel algorithms for tracking and sensor resource management, refining existing tools, and conducting experimental evaluations aimed at improving combat identification (CID).

By harnessing predictive AI, the SOUP program seeks to keep the U.S. military at the forefront of next-generation ISR development.

“The objectives for the program are to develop new algorithms for tracking and sensors resource management, modify existing algorithms, conduct experiments to measure effectiveness of combat identification (CID), integrate with other CID algorithm improvement efforts, and simulate scenarios to measure algorithm performance,” AFRL wrote on a SAM.gov posting.

While a summary of the solicitation is publicly available, full program details are restricted to controlled unclassified information. Vendors must formally request access to the complete documentation through the appropriate Air Force channels.

AFRL has allocated $3 million for the SOUP initiative. Proposals are due by May 14, with contract awards anticipated by July 25.