Photo By Cpl. Brayden Daniel | U.S. Marines with 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Division, observe a...... read more read more
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U.S. Marines with 1st Marine Division worked with contractors to test new technologies on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, during Technical Concept Experiment 22.2, Sept. 19-30.
As part of TCE, Marines integrated with contractors from various companies to demonstrate and assess new technology in order to find new methods to reduce overall risk to Marines on the ground through the integration of multiple detection, neutralization, marking and reporting technologies on board manned and unmanned platforms.
The U.S. Navy’s Office of Naval Research, which sponsors TCE, and the Marine Corps are working side by side to develop technology in order to enable better, effective integration in battlefield communication, allowing for faster operations and adapting to future concepts to make a more forward-deployed and littoral fighting force.
“The objective is to provide maritime domain awareness by fostering sealine communication, as well as freedom of maneuver, by allowing the detection of some of the threats that may impede [expeditionary advance bases] from reaching their objective for future operations,” said Dr. Joong H. Kim, a program officer with ONR. “We try to do our best to provide support for relevant information for technology for (Marines’) operations in the future.”
During the exercise, the Marines worked through various scenarios they would likely encounter while conducting expeditionary advanced base operations, integrating the new technology to see how it improved their overall safety, speed and efficiency.
Marines with 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, 1st MARDIV, conducted patrols to a combat town while integrating the new technology in their patrol to help them reach the objective faster and safer. The Marines used new capabilities such as 3D ground penetrating radar systems that can be adapted for use on forward-deployed unmanned aircraft systems, improving the speed and safety of military operations in mission-relevant environments. They also tested UAVs which are able to perform autonomous, high-resolution surveys of the area and detect hazards along planned routes.
"The technologies that are out here were really impressive,” said U.S. Marine 1st Lt. Bradley Pelham, a platoon commander with 1st CEB. “Being able to have ground-penetrating technology for detection and putting that on an unmanned vehicle or an unmanned UAS is huge. Being able to take the Marines out of the threat is the biggest thing. Not only that... but there’s a significant difference in time between what we can currently do and what they can do with the technologies."
Marines with 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st MARDIV, floated off the coast of Camp Pendleton’s Red Beach and used new technology to navigate through a contested littoral environment, detecting simulated mines and suspicious undersea objects.
The Marines and contractors dropped sensors into the water to scan the ambient environment and narrow down what a minefield looks like. The sensors then sent that information up to an unmanned underwater craft to confirm suspicious undersea objects so that boat lanes could be shaped.
“A lot of it is gathering information,” said 1st Lt. John Finnigan, a platoon commander with 1st LAR. “Information is the new currency in modern warfare. The big thing is just being able to shape that battle space, shaping that maritime domain awareness.”
As 1st Marine Division prepares for the future fight, the new technology tested through TCE can provide a broader perspective for Marines on the battlefield, fostering data gathering and threat detection. The Blue Diamond will continue to participate in similar events as the division moves toward creating a more capable force in line with Force Design 2030.
| Date Taken: | 09.30.2022 |
| Date Posted: | 11.04.2022 16:25 |
| Story ID: | 432688 |
| Location: | CAMP PENDLETON, CA, US |
| Web Views: | 431 |
| Downloads: | 2 |
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