Mine and Expeditionary Warfare Applied Research

Mission — Mine and Expeditionary Warfare Applied Research source

Sea mines remain a significant threat to ships. In fact, fifteen U.S. Navy ships have been sunk or damaged by mines since World War II, almost four times more than any other weapon. The Mine and Expeditionary Warfare Applied Research Program Element (PE) provides technologies for Naval Mine Countermeasures (MCM), Expeditionary Warfare, U.S. Naval sea mining, Naval Special Warfare (NSW), and Joint Tri-Service Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) as well as continuing support to research vessels of the U.S. Academic Research Fleet for operations and maintenance that enable applied research at sea. This program strongly aligns with the Joint Chiefs of Staff Joint Warfighting Capability Objectives through the development of technologies to achieve military objectives with minimal casualties and collateral damage. This investment will enable Ship-to-Objective Maneuver (STOM) and focus on technologies that will provide the Naval Force with the capability to dominate the battlespace, project power from the sea, and support forces ashore with particular emphasis on rapid MCM operations. These efforts concentrate on the development and transition of technologies for the MCM-related and Urban Asymmetric/Expeditionary Warfare Operations (UAEO)-related Future Naval Capabilities (FNC) Enabling Capabilities (ECs). The Mine and Obstacle Detection and Neutralization efforts include technologies for clandestine and overt minefield reconnaissance, organic ship self-protection, organic mine hunting and neutralization/breaching. The Urban Asymmetric Operation effort includes critical warfighting functions such as Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C4ISR), fires, maneuver, sustainment, etc. The Naval Special Warfare and Explosive Ordnance Disposal technology efforts concentrate on the development of technologies for safe near-shore mine detection, diver mobility and survivability, and ordnance disposal operations. The activities described in this PE address future Navy and Marine Corps capabilities needed to maintain maritime superiority and ensure national security. They are based on input from Naval Research Enterprise stakeholders including the Naval enterprises, the combatant commands, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations (OPNAV) and Headquarters Marine Corps and are designed to exploit breakthroughs in science and technology in order to deliver maximum warfighting benefit to our sailors and Marines. These efforts align with shared priorities throughout the whole of RDT&E in order to quickly advance new capabilities from discovery to deployment across the warfighting domains. Today's Sailors and Marines are enabled by naval Science and Technology (S&T). Since 1946, the Office of Naval Research (ONR) has fostered scientific research related to the maintenance of maritime superiority and national defense. ONR manages the Department of the Navy's (DON) portfolio of naval Basic and Applied research, and Advanced Technology Development investments to ensure naval forces can effectively deter conflict, but when called upon, fight, win and come home safe. Current investments hedge against uncertainty, providing solutions to commanders today, and options for the future. The Naval S&T budget supports higher guidance defined by the National Defense Strategy, and responds to requirements identified by the Secretary of the Navy through research priorities set by the Chief of Naval Research, coordinated across the Naval Research Enterprise (NRE), and outlined in the Naval R&D Framework. This Program Element (PE) funds Applied Research, which is the systematic study to understand the means to meet a recognized and specific need. Most of the work in this PE can be classified between Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 2 (technology concept and/or application formulation) and TRL 4 (component and/or breadboard validation in laboratory environments). Due to the number of efforts in this PE, the programs described herein are representative of the work included in this PE.

Mission — Congressional Adds source

Congressional Interest Items not included in other Projects.

Mission — Mine and Expeditionary Warfare Applied Research source

This Project focuses on reducing the time involved in conducting Mine Countermeasure (MCM) operations and increasing safe standoff from minefields. It develops and transitions technologies for MCM-related and UAEO-related Future Naval Capabilities (FNC). The MIW effort includes technologies for clandestine and overt minefield reconnaissance, organic ship self-protection, organic mine-hunting, neutralization/breaching and clearance. The Littoral Warfare effort includes critical warfighting functions such as C4ISR, fires, maneuver, sustainment. The sea mining effort emphasizes technologies for future sea mines. The Naval Special Warfare and Explosive Ordnance technology efforts concentrate on the development of technologies to enhance diver capabilities including: safe near-shore mine sensing, mobility and survivability, and ordnance disposal operations.

Accomplishments & Planned Programs (4)