The Pentagon’s Secret Program: CARCOSA
The Pentagon is embarking on a high-tech program aimed at reducing the cognitive burden on soldiers in the heat of battle. The classified program, known as CARCOSA, shares its name with a fictional temple from the HBO series “True Detective.” While there is no connection to the dark themes of the show, the coincidence has raised eyebrows and sparked curiosity.
Managed by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), CARCOSA is designed to be an AI-driven aggregator that will help soldiers process and make sense of the vast amount of information they encounter on the battlefield. With a budget of over $40 million, the program aims to enhance situational awareness and minimize cognitive overload for tactical cyber operators.
The modern battlefield is a complex environment where soldiers are bombarded with data from various sources, including communications systems, intelligence inputs, and electronic attacks. In addition, information operations are used to manipulate perceptions and beliefs. CARCOSA seeks to address these challenges by providing warfighters with augmented intelligence technology to navigate the information overload.
The program supports the Army’s Cyberspace and Electromagnetic Activities (CEMA) mission area, offering technical and tactical advice on offensive and defensive cyberspace and electronic warfare operations. CEMA operators are in need of tools to help them sift through the noise and extract valuable insights from the data deluge they face.
CARCOSA stands for Cyber-Augmented Reality and Cyber-Operations Suite for Augmented Intelligence. It leverages augmented reality technology to overlay computer-generated images onto the real-world view of users. By developing cutting-edge technologies, CARCOSA aims to equip soldiers and commanders with the tools they need to navigate the evolving landscape of modern warfare.
Two Six Labs, a company owned by the Carlyle Group, has been awarded a DARPA contract worth $26 million to support the CARCOSA program. The company specializes in providing situational awareness interfaces for cyber operators and developing machine learning models for malware analysis. With a focus on national security, Two Six Labs is committed to supporting government agencies and the intelligence community.
Other companies, such as Chameleon Consulting Group, Raytheon Cyber Solutions, Inc., Southwest Research Institute, SRI International, and Battelle Memorial Institute, have also received contracts related to CARCOSA. These organizations are working on various aspects of information operations and cyber technologies to support the program’s objectives.
While DARPA has been at the forefront of developing machine learning systems for decades, CARCOSA represents a significant step forward in leveraging AI technologies for military applications. As the program continues to evolve, it is poised to revolutionize how soldiers engage with information on the battlefield.
In conclusion, CARCOSA is a groundbreaking initiative that promises to enhance the capabilities of warfighters by providing them with advanced tools to navigate the complexities of modern warfare. By leveraging cutting-edge technologies and AI-driven solutions, the program aims to minimize cognitive burden and empower soldiers with augmented intelligence on the battlefield. As DARPA continues to push the boundaries of military innovation, CARCOSA stands out as a testament to the agency’s commitment to advancing national security in an ever-changing world.