Last spring, the Navy introduced a transformational Augmented Reality Maintenance System (ARMS) to the fleet and began installing the technology aboard ships to deliver real-time maintenance solutions to Sailors deployed at sea.
A year later, electronic technicians in Mid-Atlantic Regional Maintenance Center’s (MARMC) Satellite Communications (SATCOM) Branch (Code 283), who provide technical assistance, engineering evaluations, maintenance, and depot-level repairs for critical satellite communication equipment aboard Navy vessels, are using the system from their Norfolk headquarters to solve problems, conduct repairs and train Sailors operating around the world.
ARMS is a remote-assistance technology developed by the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Port Hueneme Division. It acts as a high-tech version of FaceTime or Microsoft Teams for ships with kits consisting of video glasses, a still camera, and either a non-classified or secret network tablet.
“The Sailors, by wearing a camera and using a tablet, can talk to and see us and we can see what they see,” said Code 283 Electronics Technician Kailars “Lek” Morgan. “We can conduct essentially, a video chat with them in person and walk them through whatever the situation is – troubleshooting or conducting repairs.”
ARMS provides multiple benefits to the technicians and the Sailors. Primarily, it is a cost-effective way to keep SATCOM systems up in running.
“It eliminates the need for a MARMC technician to fly out to the ship. It saves both time and money and allows us to remain here to take care of other ships,” said Code 283 Electronics Technician Marcus Thompson. The technicians have also supported Sailors operating in combat environments, resolving SATCOM issues and allowing them to remain on station.
“We had a carrier on deployment having critical issues to half their UHF (ultra-high frequency) SATCOM,” said Thompson. “We were able to diagnose faulty fiber connection based on what the technician was able to show us on screen. We were able to walk them through the settings and the cabling they needed to fix onboard to get themselves back up.
“We also had an LPD (amphibious transport dock vessel) that was operating in the Caribbean last winter whose DMRs (digital modular radios) were having power faults,” added Morgan. “We did many sessions with them, talked them through troubleshooting process and were able to see it as they were going through it. That was extremely helpful in keeping their DMRs operating.”
ARMS has also allowed the team to conduct training with Sailors virtually, helping develop self-sufficient electronic technicians at sea.
“We’re doing training in real time. It's almost like we're on board with them,” said Morgan. “We could talk them through written procedures and run through them multiple times until they’re able to see exactly how to troubleshoot and maintain the equipment.”
The only regional maintenance center in the Mid-Atlantic, MARMC supports more than 70 ships on the East Coast. Embracing new and innovative technologies like ARMS and advanced manufacturing is vital to maintaining fleet readiness.
“This is the way of the future,” said Thompson. “As connectivity improves with each update, I see an almost total replacement of email troubleshooting due to the more rapid response time. Also, it is much more precise. I can see ARMS replacing the majority of Onboard Tech Assists and fly aways.”
MARMC, a field activity under Program Acquisition Executive Industrial Operations, provides surface ship maintenance, management and oversight of private sector maintenance and fleet technical assistance to ships in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States.
| Date Taken: | 09.09.2026 |
| Date Posted: | 09.09.2026 14:51 |
| Story ID: | 574189 |
| Location: | NORFOLK, VIRGINIA, US |
| Web Views: | 17 |
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