Can You See Me Now? Visualizing Battlefield Facial Recognition Technology in 2035

Facial recognition technology will create the capability to provide positive identification of persons in a battlefield environment in the year 2035. This paper examines the state-of-the-art in facial recognition technology in the areas of access control and law enforcement. The technologies are then projected forward to examine a notional facial recognition system in the year 2035 and examine its components. In discussions with biometric experts from both the United States and United Kingdom, the viability of such a system is examined. Challenges, both in the technology and political/bureaucratic realms, are examined and possible solutions are posited. The paper poses three scenarios in which a facial recognition system could be of use to Coalition forces operating in a counterinsurgency environment. These three scenarios--passive identification in a crowd, intelligence source verification, and sector control--show the range of applications for facial recognition on the battlefield. The paper concludes with a roadmap to assist in the focusing of research and allocation of resources as facial recognition technology evolves. With appropriate levels of effort, a technology that is currently capable only in very controlled conditions will evolve into a viable system for positive identification on the battlefield by the year 2035.