Lockheed Martin’s advanced development division, Skunk Works®, has partnered with Spanish company Arquimea to demonstrate an artificial intelligence (AI) based anomaly detection capability for Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) platforms.
The capability, applied to electro-optical (EO) and infrared (IR) data, enables ISR systems to identify unusual patterns or changes in physical features while scanning a mission area. This development reduces the number of sensor passes required and enhances detection accuracy by leveraging AI to interpret deviations from expected behavior. The technology also provides predictive insights for environmental conditions that might not be visible from a single perspective.
According to Lockheed Martin, the anomaly detection system offers practical advantages for applications such as national security, disaster response, environmental monitoring, and critical infrastructure protection. It enables early detection of threats such as wildfires, pollution, or equipment failures by increasing situational awareness and supporting faster decision-making.
In recent demonstrations, the joint Skunk Works® and Arquimea team simulated a small uncrewed air system (UAS) navigating a dense jungle environment. The system was trained using episodic memory data to recognize deviations in terrain and physical structures, even from previously unseen angles. The AI compared stored reference data with new inputs and applied machine learning algorithms to detect irregularities.
This memory-based approach enables ISR systems to operate in unfamiliar conditions and supports adaptive AI for use in autonomous navigation, flight systems, and search operations.
In 2025, Skunk Works® and Arquimea will continue development to assess the applicability of these methods to other types of sensors and autonomous decision-making processes.
Lockheed Martin described the partnership as part of a broader effort to strengthen AI and machine learning capabilities through collaboration with Spanish industry. The initiative aims to accelerate research into dual-use technologies and enhance operational resilience against emerging threats.