The U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory authorized Raytheon to demonstrate target recognition technology designed to increase protection for ground forces, the company said this week. First in a laboratory and then in the air, Raytheon said it expects to show how its Air-to-Ground Radar Imaging II program would permit aircraft to detect, track and target hostile forces in motion on the ground. The laboratory demonstration is expected in later this year, with flight testing next spring. Advanced high-resolution radar can monitor activity from distances of more than 50 miles. Raytheon expects the demonstrations to prove software the company developed for a target recognition system mounted on a manned or unmanned aircraft will permit current radar technology to accomplish this new mission. For related news