SAIC’s Post

What is the most powerful aircraft carrier in the world? The title of the "most powerful" aircraft carrier could be debated depending on the criteria used for assessment. However, the United States Navy's Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carriers are often regarded as some of the most advanced and powerful in the world. The lead ship of this class, USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78), features several technological advancements, including electromagnetic catapults, advanced arresting gear, increased sortie rates, and enhanced survivability features compared to its predecessors. These carriers are designed to accommodate a wide range of aircraft, including the F-35C Lightning II, which is one of the most advanced fighter jets in the world. Additionally, the Ford-class carriers incorporate advanced radar systems, improved stealth capabilities, and increased automation, making them formidable assets in modern naval warfare. However, other countries, such as China with its Type 003 aircraft carrier, are also developing advanced carrier capabilities, so the landscape may have changed since my last update.

Published earlier this week, an essay I wrote for the U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings offers a junior officer's view on why the Navy--including and especially the Information Warfare community--should regard Information Warfare Officers as leaders in their own right, rather than just enablers of other leaders (i.e., unrestricted line officers). I've had a lot of good conversations with current and former IWOs since this article came out, and almost all of these conversations have landed with the responsibility for IWOs to seize opportunities to lead and contribute to the broader maritime and joint fight. https://lnkd.in/eWa9qQTr

🚢 **U.S. Navy's Hybrid Fleet: Concept of Operations** 🌊 *Captain George Galdorisi, a naval aviator and author, shares insights into the Navy's evolving strategies.* In a generational shift, the U.S. Navy aims for 500 ships, including 150 unmanned maritime vehicles. However, the lack of a clear concept for these unmanned vessels slows progress. **Navy's Commitment:** The Navy sees unmanned surface vehicles as crucial amid rising costs and operational demands. Congress seeks a clear plan before funding. **Concerns:** Congressional scrutiny is high due to lack of strategy and funding redirection. A clear concept is essential for future procurement. **Operational Concept:** Integrating various unmanned vehicles for missions is key. This approach accelerates deployment and enhances capability. **Moving Forward:** Flexibility in unmanned systems is vital. Successful missions will drive innovation and support Navy's future strategies. Read the full article by Captain George Galdorisi can be found here: https://lnkd.in/duZvD8-E #USNavy #UnmannedSystems #MilitaryStrategy #ConceptOfOperations #HybridFleet #DefenseInnovation #FutureOfWarfare

A value proposition can be thought of as a concise statement of why an organization exists. (My definition…) When I was a young Sailor Senior Chief (later Master Chief) Sherman Biffle would come by my workstation at 0600 every morning and ask what I’d done today for the United States Navy. Regardless of the answer he’d say something like, you’d better get started…the fleet is always underway, and what we do matters… This week I was reminded of Big Sherm when talking to two different groups of Warrior-Scholars of Team NAVO (Naval Oceanographic Office). One team designs and deploys sensors for measuring optical properties of the ocean at depth. Another group analyzes vast holdings (pedabytes) of bathymetric and gravity anomaly data. These two teams have very different missions, functions and tasks. Yet their value proposition is the same - employ our exquisite capabilities to guarantee access in contested waters, increase flexibility in fleet maneuvers, and maximize the lethality of our Naval combat power. In answer to Master Chief Sherman Biffle: This week, We set the conditions for success in Naval Combat. “The fleet is underway, and what we do matters” Not a bad way to spend the week! What is your value proposition? Happy Friday y’all! Lead well and finish strong!

Navigation Displays from CDS

The Navy Special Warfare Combatant-Craft Crewmen (SWCC) unit was established in the early 1980s as a specialized group within the Naval Special Warfare Command. Their primary mission is to provide critical support to Navy SEAL operations, focusing on the use of high-speed, heavily armed boats to insert and extract SEAL teams in hostile environments. The SWCCs are experts in maritime operations, including navigation, weapons handling, and small boat tactics. Their skills are honed through rigorous training, making them adept at operating in challenging conditions, such as riverine and coastal areas, where traditional naval vessels would struggle. As we consider the modern battlefield, the role of SWCC and their specialized boats remains a topic of discussion. With advancements in technology and the evolving nature of warfare, one might question whether these fast boats still hold a strategic advantage in contemporary conflicts. Do you think the utilization of these agile and versatile boats by the SWCC still makes sense in today's high-tech combat scenarios, or should there be a shift towards more advanced, possibly unmanned, maritime systems?

The world was stunned by UK Ministry of Defence’s demonstration of the DragonFire LDEW system in action back in January, bringing science fiction to life and seemingly opening a new frontier in the battle against hostile drone incursions. DragonFire theoretically provides the solution to the challenge gripping allied militaries - how to ensure drone mitigation measures are not only effective but scalable, cost effective and reliable. Last week’s Counter UAS Technology Europe Conference featured unprecedented insight on the timeline accelerations, industry development and integration considerations that will determine how quickly we see LDEW systems deployed on the battlefield. Our exclusive piece summarises the perspective of leading military and industry experts including Group Captain Gary Darby MSyI MSc - UK Ministry of Defence, Lieutenant Commander Kieran Lewis - Royal Navy, Aaron Westman - BlueHalo, and Squadron Leader Hugo Morris - British Army, highlighting the challenges and opportunities anyone working in the C-UAS field will want to be aware of. ➡️Click here to download: https://lnkd.in/eqv3NiZ4. #counteruas #cuas #counterdrone #lasers #defence #ukmod #dragonfire (image source: Lockheed Martin)

"Naval fleets worldwide continuously seek strategies to optimize their operational effectiveness while managing costs." "Adopting a modern alignment process offers a cost-effective solution for enhancing the efficiency of naval fleets' weapons and sensor systems." #Naval #Navy #Drone #Whitepaper #Alignment #Weapon #Firecontrol

U.S. Naval Forces Central Command is advancing lethality and the combat capabilities of unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) during live weapons firing exercises in the international waters surrounding the Arabian Peninsula.

Noteworthy news about a significant development in naval operations: The U.S. Navy, United Kingdom, and Australia are gearing up to test an AI system designed to enhance submarine tracking in the Pacific. According to a recent Bloomberg report, this #AI technology aims to bolster our maritime security by optimizing tracking capabilities. While Pillar I of the AUKUS agreement focuses on submarines, Pillar II focuses on a suite of cooperative activities surrounding advanced capabilities like the aforementioned. Eight working groups have been established to coordinate activities including: Undersea Capabilities Quantum Technologies Artificial Intelligence and Autonomy Advanced Cyber Hypersonic and Counter-Hypersonic Capabilities Electronic Warfare Innovation Information Sharing https://lnkd.in/emYmnCBc