The 2024 Sea-Air-Space exposition recently wrapped up, sending off the world’s finest defense and military leaders with a newly refreshed vision of the maritime industry. The event is the largest sea and military convention in the United States and encompasses discussion around innovation and development within the maritime domain. This year’s topics revolved around modernization and readiness, highlighting the industry’s overall mission of improving logistics and embracing change.
For 59 years, the Navy League of the United States has owned and operated the Sea-Air-Space exposition, attracting members and leaders from the U.S. Coast Guard, Navy, and private-sector U.S. companies, as well as key military decision-makers. The event continues to provide a platform for industry leaders to share more about the current defense industry and discuss visions for the future.
One notable session covered Coast Guard Aviation and U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Command and Control (C2) Modernization. Speaker, Captain Christin Hernaez, Chief of C5I Capabilities for the U.S. Coast Guard, presented the Coast Guard’s Next Generation Command and Control (C2) efforts, which enable data sharing to improve Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) capabilities, communications, sensors, and infrastructure initiatives.
According to the U.S. Coast Guard, MDA refers to all areas and things of, on, under, relating to, adjacent to, or bordering on a sea, ocean, or other navigable waterway, including all maritime-related activities, infrastructure, people, cargo, vessels, and other conveyances. One of the Coast Guard’s priorities is to develop, test, and deploy technologies for MDA applications. Partnering with the Coast Guard is the Department of Homeland Security; together, they use MDA to track and counteract any potential threats posed by adversaries or cyberattacks on the maritime transportation system.
Command and control (C2) is a well-known phrase in the defense industry; Simply put, it is the ability to command ordinances and control a region’s operations. The Coast Guard uses a C2 structure to provide commanders with accurate, timely, and reliable information to make quick decisions and inform maritime operations.
Yet, with any ingrained process, hiccups inevitably rise to the surface. During his presentation, Capt. Hernaez shared some challenges the Coast Guard faces with its current C2 operations. One of the main difficulties is the need for C2 data infrastructure to interface C2 data sources to enable data sharing across multi-level security environments. This means there is an inability to exchange real-time, operational, and tactical data and plans to support mission goals and outcomes.
To tackle the current data sharing inefficiencies, the Coast Guard will implement a “Next Generation C2” to develop an Operational Data Ecosystem that enables data sharing to improve MDA capabilities.
“This is not surprising, given the strong emphasis on enhancing the effectiveness, agility, and resilience of all available assets to address threats as well as bolstering operational effectiveness in a world of increasing military competition,” shared Rory Welch, Vice President of International Government at Intelsat in a previous Satellite World article. “While the fundamental Command and Control concepts of organizing and directing military forces have been around for centuries, their significance and impact have grown exponentially with the convergence of three key technology categories – data creation, data analytics, and data transport.”
Maintaining awareness and enforcing governance in a changing maritime domain remains central to every Coast Guard mission. The switch to the Next Generation C2 will equip the Coast Guard with advancements in communication and accurate real-time awareness to make better decisions. Capt. Hernaez said that this new C2 structure will unite people, assets, systems, and data in new ways to design a more agile force. To implement the Next Generation C2, Capt. Hernaez explained that through interconnected, enterprise wide C5I capabilities, the Coast Guard will acquire a more elevated operational data ecosystem and loftier maritime domain awareness.
The Coast Guard’s C5I—short for Command, Control, Communication, Computer, Cyber, and Intelligence—manages all command-and-control systems. Additionally, the C5I service team has been venturing into implementing zero-trust cybersecurity, mobile communications, cloud computing environments, and artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities. These applications enable the men and women in the Coast Guard to achieve mission success safely and successfully.
In his presentation, Capt. Hernaez expanded on how C5I will support the Next Generation C2 modernization efforts, which include replacing manned platforms with new unmanned platforms to fill capacity gaps, implementing artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) algorithms to detect targets of interest, and machine-to-machine data transfers that will deliver advanced analytics to provide the right information to the decision maker at the right time. The goal is to deliver the right information to the right user, at the right classification, at the right time, via the right route, for the right reason, on the right device.
Moreover, Capt. Hernaez shared modernization efforts underway to enhance C5I and Sensor capabilities. If you weren’t already aware, the DHS IT Asset Management and Refresh Policy requires regular assessment of all Coast Guard IT infrastructure assets to determine whether the assets should be maintained, upgraded, modernized, or replaced. One of the recognized applications that is being prioritized includes Persistent Wide Area Maritime Surveillance (PWAMS), which leverages various technologies like radar, sonar, and satellite imagery to monitor large maritime areas.
Satellites are a key player in managing and overseeing activity in the maritime domain. The high-level sensors provide the Coast Guard with reliable and wide-range maritime surveillance. Additionally, satellites are a considerable asset because they can over”sea” remote areas inaccessible to aircraft and vessels. These characteristics are critical for C2 operations due to satellites’ capabilities to provide data, coordination, and support of on-scene assets.
With a focus on modernization and readiness, this year’s Sea-Air-Space exposition showcased the commitment of defense leaders to enhance logistics and embrace technological advancements.
Furthermore, advancements in C5I capabilities, including the integration of AI, machine learning, and satellite technology, exemplify the Coast Guard’s dedication to staying ahead in a rapidly evolving maritime landscape. More importantly, they provide the men and women serving in the Coast Guard with the necessary tools to make the right decisions.
Check out this link to learn more about the 2024 Sea-Air-Space Exposition.
