Maritime Concept Generation & Development

Abstract

In "A Cooperative Strategy for 21st Century Seapower" then CNO, ADM Gary Roughead, reiterated the importance of fleet experimentation "Specific initiatives in support of this strategy must be vetted and tested over time through experimentation, wargaming, and continued operational experience..." The "Naval Operations Concept of 2010 (NOC 10)" included direct references to experimentation: "The ideas in NOC 10 will be refined over time through wargaming, experimentation, operational analysis and practical experience - ultimately resulting in changes to the way naval forces are employed." In a June 2013 Proceedings article entitled "A New Naval Era", the current CNO and the Commandant of the Marine Corps discussed the importance of a Navy-Marine Corps team dedicated to redefining the contours of tomorrow's naval force today through innovation and experimentation. The Maritime Concept Generation and Concept Development project funds four main efforts: (1) Experimentation in support of the Concept Generation/Concept Development (CG/CD) program. The priorities for the CG/CD program are to explore near/far-term technological and non-technological solutions to war fighting gaps across all naval warfare areas. The associated experimentation efforts include planning, systems engineering and integration, modeling and simulation support, event execution, data collection, analysis, and assessment for a wide-range of experiment venues, such as workshops, seminars, war games, limited objective experiments, limited technical experiments, and live force events. (2) Provides planning, execution and analysis support to the Fleet Experimentation (FLEX) program, a joint U.S. Fleet Forces/Pacific Fleet effort managed by NWDC, and the only program. NWDC provides planning, systems engineering and integration, execution, data collection, and analysis support for FLEX events to address identified warfighting gaps prioritized in the CUSFF/CPF Commander's Guidance for Fleet Experimentation. The FLEX program and efforts of the FLEX team support the "last tactical mile" of many other Navy Science and Technology (S&T) programs by supporting those programs when the technology is mature enough and requires evaluation on or by a "fleet asset" - ships, airplanes, submarines, sailors. Reductions in FLEX program support cause many other innovative/S&T programs to also suffer the consequences through the loss of the expertise resident in the FLEX program/team. (3) Provides Modeling and Simulation (M&S) support to FLEX and NWDC experimentation efforts. Where practical M&S is used to stimulate decision making during wargaming and experimentation vice the more expensive and difficult use of live forces. (4) Provides for the Navy's Tactical Development and Evaluation (TAC D&E) program, managed by NWDC. This program, focused on providing near-term solutions to address specific fleet-identified tactical issues. Proposed projects are submitted by fleet units, prioritized against Commander's Guidance issued by Commander US Fleet Forces and Commander Pacific Fleet, and then funded to the extent of the available funding. Products produced include: - Concepts signed by the CNO that influence future funding and technological development - White papers (think pieces) intended to generate further discussion within Navy leadership - Experimentation final reports (including analysis and recommendations) - FLEX event Analysis Reports - FLEX event DOTMLPF change recommendations - New/revised doctrinal and Tactics/Techniques/Procedures publications - Tactical Memorandum (TACMEMOs)(draft doctrine) - Concepts of Operation (CONOPS) - Tactical Decision Aids (TACAIDS) Specific products are listed in the Accomplishments/Plans section of this exhibit. Tis project shows an increase from FY 2015 to FY 2016 even though the CRIC is funded from its own project in FY 2016. The FY 2015 funding, however, did not adequately cover the CRIC projects approved for execution by the CNO (approximately $3M shortfall) nor did it adequately cover experimentation support costs (reduction of contractor support resulted in down-scoping of some experimentation efforts). The lack of adequate FY 2015 funding has put NWDC in a position where FY 2016 funding will be required during October 2015 to avoid a work stoppage.

Document Details

• Document Type: Project
• Publication Date: Oct 01, 2016
• Source ID: 2356_0604707N_4_1319_PB_2016

Tags

Fields of Study

• Engineering

Readers

• Joint Military Operations and Doctrine.
• Maritime and Naval Warfare Studies
• Military Science and Technology Research and Modernization.