Unmanned Maritime Systems Development Accelerates
There is little question that world militaries see the value of unmanned systems to complement their manned counterparts. The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan accelerated the development of unmanned aerial systems and unmanned ground systems to meet urgent operational needs. Now, there is increasing interest in unmanned surface systems, resulting in their placement on an accelerated development path.Like their air and ground counterparts, these unmanned surface systems are valued because of their ability to reduce the risk to human life in high threat areas…
U.S. Navy: Unmanned Maritime Systems Development Accelerates
There is little question that world militaries see the value of unmanned systems to complement their manned counterparts. The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan accelerated the development of unmanned aerial systems and unmanned ground systems to meet urgent operational needs. Now, there is increasing interest in unmanned surface systems, resulting in their placement on an accelerated development path.Like their air and ground counterparts, these unmanned surface systems are valued because of their ability to reduce the risk to human life in high threat areas…
US Navy Helps Small Companies Engage with Experimentation
The United States' Department of Navy (DoN) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Experimentation Cell (DoN SEC) connects SBIR innovators with the DoN experimentation community to deliver innovative solutions for the warfighter.“Our mission is to support the SBIR community from the first idea to experiment execution by offering beginning-to-end facilitation, mentoring, and training in all aspects of experimentation,” said Scott Bartlett, the DoN SEC program manager,Naval experimentation can validate or inform concepts of operations…
Overcoming the Propeller Supply Bottleneck
Hydrocomp’s ProCad facilitates in-house Process Control of Propeller Design and Manufacture. Maritime Tactical Systems Inc. (MARTAC) is a Florida-based company building next-generation unmanned vessels for military applications. In preparation for the “Rim of the Pacific” (RIMPAC) military exercises in Pearl Harbor this last July, MARTAC needed a new propeller design for their MANTAS series high-speed vessels. Unfortunately, their current supplier was not meeting delivery schedules for the high-quality surface-piercing propellers that they need…
No Hands ISR Project Involves US/Japan Firms
MSHIP Co., a San Diego naval design firm joins with Uemura Seisakusyo Co., Ltd. of Japan on the project. MSHIP has designed the next generation high-speed military platform — Stiletto ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance) — which will focus on future warfare with extensive use of unmanned systems. The Stiletto ISR, a mothership for unmanned systems, will offer easy launch, support and retrieval of unmanned vehicles. MSHIP's products, including the Stiletto ISR, received great response at the 2012 Japan International Aerospace Exhibition.
ATLAS North America SeaFox
The SeaFox mine neutralization system, delivered by ATLAS North America (ATLAS NA), a subsidiary of the German-based ATLAS ELEKTRONIK GmbH, once again proved its effectiveness in performing unmanned mine countermeasure missions, when participating in Trident Warrior 2012 U.S. Navy Fleet Experiment, July 9-20. During the Fleet Experiment, Textron/AAI used its Fleet Class Common Unmanned Surface Vessel (CUSV) with a L-3 Klein 5000 V2 Side Scan Sonar to investigate a suspected minefield.
Trident Warrior ’07 Brings New Technology to the Fleet
Naval Network Warfare Command (NETWARCOM) is hosting Trident Warrior 2007, the annual FORCEnet sea trial event, from March 16 through March 30, to improve communication and speed vital information to warfighters. During the exercise, U.S. naval forces are teaming with DoD and civilian agencies to test new technologies that will improve communication and situational awareness across a multinational experiment. Military units from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and France are also taking part in Trident Warrior. Some participants are actually attending the exercise here while others are linked virtually, using the various technologies being tested in a network-centric environment.
Trident Warrior ’05 Strengthens Navy’s Communication Capabilities
The Navy began a two-week exercise Nov. 28 with navies from Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Great Britain to improve the way it communicates between its ships, shore facilities and its coalition partners. “Trident Warrior is the Navy’s major FORCEnet experimentation venue,” stated Trident Warrior ’05 Director Cmdr. Tony Parrillo. According to Capt. Sinclair Harris, commander, Amphibious Squadron 4, FORCEnet is what ties all of the military components together. “FORCEnet is the network with which all the submarines, planes, Marines on the ground, ships at sea and coalition partners are able to transmit and receive information via e-mail or chat or links of different natures,” he stated. The Trident Warrior process takes approximately 12 months, according to Naval Network Warfare Command.
