A communications train taught Sailors find out how to use cutting-edge expertise that enhances Navy EOD’s potential to help Distributed Maritime Operations and Expeditionary Superior Basing Operations.
“That is how we have to talk as a part of the Navy Expeditionary Fight Pressure. The expertise is designed to function in austere operational environments whereas being extra resilient to disruption and exploitation by adversaries,” mentioned Cmdr. Philip Ibbitson, the command, management, communications and computer systems, and intelligence (C4I) officer at EODGRU-1.
Groups of Sailors used the Cellular Consumer Goal System (MUOS) satellite tv for pc waveform, Mesh Networking Protocols, and Staff Consciousness Equipment (TAK) functions, that are higher fitted to expeditionary operations as a consequence of their elevated mobility, capabilities, and decreased energy necessities.
“We created a extra resilient, strong mesh communications community with groups situated all through a 15-mile space filled with obstructions,” mentioned Ibbitson about utilizing the elevated line-of-sight expertise, which offers steady communications if a number of nodes goes down.
Groups had been situated aboard small boats transiting San Diego Bay, and on Naval Amphibious Base Coronado, California, and Naval Base San Diego. They shared voice, information, and precision location info utilizing a Cellular Adhoc Community (MANET) that runs TAK software program on Android tablets and Home windows workstations.
“We pushed the restrict of the mesh community because it dynamically tailored to seek out one of the best path to direct info so communications weren’t misplaced,” mentioned Info System Technician 1st Class Jose Reyna, who was aboard a small boat that transited previous all of the groups whereas heading to Level Loma.
Relying on out there satellite tv for pc sources, TAK permits Sailors to textual content, stream movies and ship photos to a gaggle chat everybody with entry can view. The MUOS waveform and PRC-117G radio supplied groups superior cellular communications capabilities that included safe and unsecure cellphone calls, and entry to the Navy’s Safe Web Protocol Community (SIPRNet).
“Legacy expertise doesn’t have the smarts to do this,” mentioned Reyna, a Sailor in EODGRU-1’s C4I Division. “This offers us safe communications, fixed integrity and the flexibility to have real-time monitoring of our forces.”
Ibbitson added that this expertise is crucial to overcoming potential adversary benefits by bettering Navy EOD’s potential to maneuver and assist the fleet and Joint Forces management key maritime terrain.
“It provides commanders unparalleled geospatial consciousness of their models’ areas whereas permitting models, and ultimately unmanned underwater automobiles (UUVs) to be tracked and retasked,” mentioned Ibbitson.
EODGRU-1 is a vital a part of Navy Expeditionary Fight Command that clears explosive hazards to supply entry to denied areas, employs superior ways and applied sciences to take advantage of and safe the undersea area for freedom of maneuver, builds and fosters relationships with trusted companions, and protects the nation.
