Page 40 - 21st Century Defense 100th Anniversary WW1

An F/A-18F Super Hornet on the flight
deck aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft
carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75.
nThe exercise takes place in Norway
and the surrounding areas of the North
Atlantic and the Baltic Sea, including
Iceland and the airspace of Finland and
Sweden. More than 50,000 participants
—including US service members—are
participating, utilizing approximately
150 aircraft, 65 ships and more than
10,000 vehicles in support of the
exercise. US Navy photo by Mass
Communication Specialist 3rd Class
Adelola Tinubu.
An aerial view of the Space and Naval
Warfare Systems Command (SPAWAR)
Headquarters in San Diego. SPAWAR
is responsible for serving as the Navy’s
technical lead for Command, Control,
Communications, Computers, Intelligence,
Surveillance and Reconnaissance
(C4ISR), providing the hardware and
software to connect Sailors at sea, on
land and in the air. US Navy photo.

components is the MQ-25A Stingray program, which is but its sailors are still the heart of its operations. That explains
scheduled to become operational hopefully in 2024. The why it operates programs to make sure they, their families,
program will introduce a new generation of technology that and veterans are provided for in medical, fiscal, or spiritual
will upgrade the carrier air wing’s long-range capabilities. emergencies or times of separation.
The emerging Navy MQ-25 Stingray program will introduce a The Navy and Veteran Affairs (VA) have formed a partnership
new unmanned re-fueler for the carrier air wing. The highlight of to improve veterans’ health and maintain navy surgeons’
the program will be a first-of-its kind carrier-launched drone that readiness. The two agencies are operating a pilot program
will double the attack range of F-18 fighters, F-35Cs, and other in San Diego, California to provide total joint surgeries. The
carrier aircraft. Okay, that’s over the water. The Navy is also procedures will not only benefit veterans, but they will help
implementing programs and new technology under it as well. navy surgeons maintain and refine their skills and develop
Among its latest assets to patrol beneath the surface are new techniques that will eventually improve health care for
state-of the-art Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (UUVs) and all sailors in need of such services.
Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs), which employ The navy’s concern for state-of-the-art health and spiritual
somewhat more advanced technologies. Both types carry the care extends to all facets of their mission, including the welfare
most advanced detection technology and can be piloted or set of their families. Its Chaplain Corps leverages the latest
to scan a target area independently and report back on it. The technologies to offer spiritual welfare, suicide prevention
newest generations can even act on the information collected. support, and other services to sailors and their families. The
One of the navy’s recent innovations is the Knifefish Mine navy Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (MWR) program gives
Countermeasure (MCM) UUV. Future UUVs could be used to sailors and their family members’ peace of mind through its
disable or destroy enemy vessels. And, as proof that the navy diverse array of services that put their minds at ease during
does not operate in a vacuum, it has asked academics and periods of crisis and deployment. They range from sports and
industry representatives for ideas on equipping UUVs with fitness activities to financial advice and child and youth
even more advanced capabilities. That is a sure sign that the programs. There is something for everyone in the navy’s
navy of the future will be equipped with the most advanced efforts to remain a viable global military power that values its
equipment and programs available just as it is today. personnel and their families as the backbone of its operations.
In a related field the navy concentrates on basic and advanced There is no end in sight to the navy’s determination to continue
research in artificial intelligence through its Center for Applied building and maintaining the strongest naval force on the
Research in Artificial Intelligence (NCARAI). Researchers study globe. It is doing that by employing and integrating the latest
cognitive science, autonomy, and human-centered computing. state-of-the-art technologies to upgrade its assets, from ships
Their goal is to develop and implement artificial intelligence to computer networks to planes and submarines, without
technology and techniques that can be integrated successfully overlooking the value of its greatest asset, its sailors. The
with other systems and with humans. That last part is significant. combination of highly trained personnel and advanced
technology has kept the navy strong for over 240 years. Its
The navy may be heavily dependent on CWE, PEO C4I, and AI, dominance will continue well into the 21st century and beyond.
40