Page 28: of Marine Technology Magazine (October 2020)

Ocean Observation U.S. Navy’s RDML John Okon

Please discuss in overview the ography, in cooperation with institutions portable littoral expeditionary units to the size and shape of unmanned such as WHOI, SCRIPPS, the Univer- larger 6000M deep ocean systems. These maritime systems currently in sity of Washington, and the Of? ce of systems are force multipliers for us to the ‘? eet’ or at the disposal or

Naval Research, developed many of provide critical environmental knowl-

USN, and discuss how you see the unmanned systems currently in use edge across the globe to the meet the this expanding and evolving in throughout the Fleet. Additionally, Na- operational needs of the Fleet. Operating the future. val Oceanography ? elded SLOCUM unmanned systems are part of everyday gliders in 2010, and by 2019 was the In the past 10 years, unmanned systems life across a number of Naval Oceanogra- ? rst organization to successfully deploy capabilities have continued to expand phy commands to include a ? eet of buoy- and operate over 100 unmanned systems with the limits of operational potential ancy gliders, unmanned surface vehicles, simultaneously from one location, the remaining beyond the visible horizon. and unmanned underwater vehicles that

Naval Oceanographic Of? ce’s Glider We have in inventory approximately 200 effectively enable mine warfare, special

Operations Center. unmanned systems, ranging from man warfare, and safety of navigation. The

Photo: U.S. Navy 28 October 2020

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