Combined Joint Task Force Exercise (CJTFEX) 04-2: ARIES-TERN Network Connectivity Experiment

Abstract

The Office of Naval Research (ONR) Organic Mine Countermeasure (OMCM) Future Naval capabilities (FNC) Program Office objective to expedite the implementation of new war fighting concepts and complementary mine countermeasures (MCM) technologies, is enhanced through Fleet demonstrations. Technology demonstrations garner and maintain Fleet advocacy for OMCM FNC initiatives and assist in the validation and improvement of the military utility of prototype systems. The Program Office plans to demonstrate autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) technologies during two FY 04 major exercises, the NATO exercise BLUE GAME 04 and Combined Joint Task Fleet Exercise (CJTFEX) 04-2. This report documents ONR observations during experiments conducted by the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) during CJTFEX 04-2. The primary objective of these observations is to assess the military utility and application of the NPS Aries/Tern system in a real-world exercise environment. An additional objective will be to collect information to enable an assessment of individual system performance and the performance of system components to mark development progress and capability using standard measures of performance and effectiveness. Underlying this objective is the Chief of Naval Operations’ (CNO) mandate to expedite the implementation of new warfighting concepts and technologies. ONR is addressing this by fielding complementary MCM technologies with emphasis on near shore operations and the use of unmanned vehicles.