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Navy Technologies Evolve Amid Substantial Changes
www.afcea.org/signal
by By Robert K. Ackerman
All of the U.S. military services are undergoing a transformation in virtually all aspects of their structure, doctrine and operations. These changes are taking place against the backdrop of ongoing military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. As with all the services, the U.S. Navy’s transformation is multifaceted. And, as with the other services, its transformation is unique to its character.
Among the bow waves of this naval overhaul is the introduction of new technologies into the sea service. With the advent of network-centric warfare—a concept that was thrust into the spotlight originally by Vice Adm. Arthur Cebrowski, USN (Ret.)—the Navy has been incorporating new information technologies and systems into all of its at-sea and ashore assets.
Foremost among these technology changes is the Navy/Marine Corps Intranet, or NMCI. This massive networking effort is designed to provide a single Web-based network for Navy and Marine Corps facilities around the world. The ongoing NMCI upgrades already are providing unforeseen benefits to the network’s users, and the evolutionary program continues to insert new technologies.
At sea, the revolution reaches into every corner of the Navy. Near-term changes include improved information systems that, operating in concert with the NMCI, will arm the Navy with information as never before. These new at-sea technologies, spawned by the Navy’s Information Technology (IT)-21 strategy, offer the promise of new degrees of information delivered to greater levels of warfighting.
Information technologies may be the linchpin for this transformation, but even greater changes loom on the horizon. Already on the drawing boards are new ships that will revolutionize the concept of naval combat. The next-generation aircraft carrier will begin this process with new plants that provide more power for advanced systems to come. Surface ships still in the design phase will incorporate stealth characteristics and long-sought innovations such as electric drive. Unmanned combat aerial vehicles not only will absorb many missions that would endanger crewed aircraft, but they also will open up new airborne attack and surface support missions.
Having increased power sources at their disposal will provide ship commanders with a host of new capabilities. The day may not be far off when ships actually are built around massive information system architectures. Aircraft carriers will be able to incorporate electromagnetic catapults to replace decades-old steam technologies. And, surface ships may be able to defend themselves using free electron lasers to down small aircraft and incoming sea-skimming missiles.
With all these potential changes looming, Navy planners face difficult choices. The decisions that they make in the near future will affect military operations for decades to come—and not just for the Navy. Littoral operations and support for land-based warfighters are likely to play a greater role in Navy operations, so the nature of the fleet will help define the nature of warfare on all levels and in all theaters. The role played by the Navy in defending a maritime nation has never been small. In this age of terrorism and suddenly emerging threats from rogue nations, that role is not confined to just the sea lanes. Technological changes underway in the Navy now will serve to support other changes—and doctrines—across the spectrum of military operations.
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