(U)NAVAL CONSTRUCTION FORCES

Abstract

Project 3444 directly supports Joint Force resiliency in accordance with the National Defense Strategy (NDS) of 2022, A Design for Maintaining Maritime Superiority 2.0, and the NAVFAC Strategic Design 2.0 Guidance. Investment in EABO technologies enables Naval Construction Force (NCF) capability modernization and adaption for Naval Integration. These technologies enable capabilities such as Airfield Damage Repair (ADR), Port Damage Repair (PDR), Expeditionary Ordinance Re-load (ExORD), Expeditionary Fuel Distribution (ExFUEL), and Expeditionary Force Sustainment in a littoral environment. New warfighting concepts and Marine Corps organizational changes will necessitate future changes to NCF capabilities, organization, and table of allowance material. Further, mobile infrastructure capabilities are envisioned to supplement these vulnerable fixed airfield and port infrastructure assets. This program provides for investment in technologies, materials, and process solutions to improve logistics resiliency and enhance Expeditionary Navy performance in the following portfolio areas; ADR, PDR, Expeditionary Engineering Materials and Equipment (EEME), and Advanced Manufacturing (AdvM). The AdvM portfolio area has been aligned under Project 3444 beginning in FY24, complementary efforts previously funded under RDTE,N PE/Project 0204413N/2477. Investments that facilitate rapid ADR include; saltwater concrete, full-depth reclamation, autonomous airfield inspection and survey, and follow-on RDTE for transition of Joint Capability Technology Demonstration (JCTD) products. Additional investments that facilitate PDR include; mini robotic salvage dredge research, expedient pier assessment and repair, quay wall repair technologies, port assessment sensor integration of survey data for real time operational decisions, and integration of metadata for 3D virtual assessments. Innovative AdvM capabilities will address the operational and logistic deficiencies associated with obtaining repair parts and producing EOD training aids during distributed maritime operations (DMO) along with other predicted readiness and expeditionary operational challenges. The Expeditionary Navy will gain the capability to print parts, material, and structures in austere environments at remote sites with limited external logistical support to augment the existing supply system, and to bridge gaps and shortfalls keeping personnel and equipment actively engaged in mission execution. This effort will develop and assess technologies for Organizational-Level Maintenance (OM) usage; develop and assess modified COTS and GOTS AdvM equipment, techniques, and procedures for Intermediate-Level Maintenance (IM) usage to mitigate logistics gaps during operational events within the Expeditionary Navy. Development includes evaluation and modification of the Expeditionary Fabrication (EXFAB) concept to meet expeditionary warfighter requirements as detailed in the NECE Advanced Manufacturing Analysis of Alternatives. Development of alternative expeditionary engineering materials and equipment will maximize agility and resiliency while minimizing supply chain risk. These technologies will enable in-the-field production of parts (including original and spare parts for expeditionary equipment) and in-situ fabrication of expeditionary structures. This includes production equipment (such as advanced manufacturing systems), raw materials (such as locally sourced construction materials), inspection and quality certification equipment, as well as support methods and criteria to employ these systems in the expeditionary environment. New concepts for expeditionary engineering equipment technologies enhance expeditionary engineering operations, to include site identification, selection, and planning; site clearing and preparation; construction activities; site operations support (including local material handling, damage repair, etc.); and site deconstruction and retrograde activities. Technologies demonstrated will provide required engineer support capability while maximizing the ability to deploy (by minimizing size and weight) and enhancing operator safety (by providing direct operator protection or allowing for remote or autonomous operation). The results of these efforts will enhance Navy force response plans, and Joint Force Commander's flexibility to deploy and employ from expeditionary airfields, as well as deliver and sustain warfighting capabilities at the point of effect. This includes "right size, just-in-time" technologies that can facilitate both conventional and autonomous rapid assessment, repair, and re-constitution of expeditionary airfields. These efforts to develop technologies supporting NCF's PDR capabilities include just-in-time assessment and rapid repair of piers, quay- walls, fleet moorings, critical expeditionary waterfront facilities and infrastructure, and port facilities above, at, and below the waterline to enable the reviving, re-armament, repair, re-fueling, re-calibration and re-constitution of fleet platforms at Sea Ports of Debarkation (SPODs) available during Major Combat Operations (MCO). FYDP effort involves transitioning these capabilities into a program of record within an existing Table of Allowance (TOA) and Supports NDS requirements of Resilient and Agile Logistics and supplements the Navy's ExADR Program of DMO 38-Operational Logistics allowing dynamic operational maneuverability with both fixed and mobile logistics

Document Details

• Document Type: R2 Budgetary Justification
• Publication Date: Oct 01, 2024
• Source ID: 0603239N_4_1319_PB_2024
• Change Summary Explanation: Increase of $6.115 million is due to the requirement to mitigate deficiencies identified in the PDR AoA and re-alignment of the advanced manufacturing capability set under project 3444.
• Service Agency Name: Navy

Entities

Organizations

• United States Navy

Tags

Communities of Interest

• Autonomy
• Engineered Resilient Systems (Alumni COI)
• Human Systems

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

• Advanced Manufacturing
• Combat Operations
• Construction
• Construction Equipment
• Construction Materials
• Engineering
• Fabrication
• Logistics
• Maintenance
• Marine Corps
• Materials
• National Security
• Spare Parts
• Supply Chain
• Test And Evaluation
• Training
• Training Devices

Readers

• Enterprise Information Systems Architecture and Joint Command Capability Interoperability Support.
• Facility/Structural Engineering.
• Maritime Combat Support and Expeditionary Logistics.

Technology Areas

• AI & ML
• AI & ML - DoD AI Strategy
• Autonomy
• Autonomy - UAVs