The U.S. Navy, working closelywith its industrial partners, sells navalplatforms, systems and weapons toU.S. allies and partners throughoutthe world. The relationships forged bythis activity strengthen the defense ca-pabilities of the foreign nations in-volved and also buttress the nationalsecurity of the United States and thehealth of its defense industrial base.

Seapower Managing Editor RichardR. Burgess discussed the Foreign Mil-itary Sales (FMS) program withRADM Jim Shannon, deputy assistantsecretary of the Navy for InternationalPrograms, and RADM Douglas J.Venlet, director for international en-gagement in the Office of the Chief ofNaval Operations. Excerpts follow:

How do Foreign Military Sales pro-mote international engagementwith allies and partners?SHANNON: The simple answer isFMS is more than a sale, more thanjust buying a product or a service. Itis really about a partnership, a rela-tionship. We’re building relationshipsthat last a long time and, like any re-lationship, it’s built on trust. Trustleads to mutual interests, the sharingof ideas, and all of these things pro-mote international engagement and,ultimately, what they do is lead to na-tional security.

VENLET: International engagementruns the gamut from direct one-on-one relationships on the ground thatdrive shared strategic concerns to

common hardware that enables forceinteroperability on the tactical level.FMS provides the baseline for com-patible training and weapons sys-tems that not only address thecritical capability requirements ofour friends and partners, but also en-able us to work together on the highseas. There is strong motivation forforeign navies to engage substan-

U.S. Foreign Military Sales promote partnership, security

LISA NIPPRADM Jim Shannon, deputy assistant secretaryof the Navy for International Programs

LISA NIPPRADM Douglas J. Venlet, director for interna-tional engagement in the Office of the Chief ofNaval Operations

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■ 8:30 a.m.: Opening Ceremony, Potomac AB■ 9-10:30 a.m.: Service Chiefs’ Update, Potomac AB■ 10:30 a.m. Program Briefings:

1. DDG 51, NAVSEA Booth 23232. F/A-18 & EA-18G, National Harbor 11■ 10:30-11:45 a.m. Roundtable Sessions:

1. Naval Energy for the Warfighter — At Sea& Ashore, Potomac C/123

2. Ohio Replacement Program: A Partnership of Progress, Potomac D/456■ 10:45-11:45 a.m.: Assured Command &Control, Navy League Booth 1002■ 11 a.m. Program Briefings:

1. DDG 1000, NAVSEA Booth 23232. Surface Fleet Logistics Today, USCG

Booth 1028■ 11:30 a.m.: Surface Ship Torpedo Defense,NAVSEA Booth 2323■ 12-1:30 p.m.: Sea Services Luncheon, Potomac AB■ 1:45-2:15 p.m.: Battlespace Awareness,Navy League Booth 1002■ 2 p.m. Program Briefings:

1. Electromagnetic Railgun, NAVSEA Booth2323

2. V-22, National Harbor 11 3. E-2D and C-2A, Eastern Shore Room 8■ 2:30-3 p.m.: Shore Energy & InfrastructureResiliency, Navy League Booth 1002■ 3-4:15 p.m. Roundtable Sessions:

1. The Challenge of 2020: Preparing for anUncertain Security Environment, PotomacD/456

2. Operating Forward: Partners in GlobalPresence, Potomac AB

3. U.S. Opportunities for Arctic CouncilChairmanship, Potomac C/123■ 3:15-3:45 p.m.: FMS Trends: Increasing Demand for Enhanced Follow-on Support,USCG Booth 1028■ 3:15-3:45 p.m.: Open Systems Architecture, Navy League Booth 1002■ 4:30 p.m.: International Maritime Panel,Cherry Blossom Ballroom

NOTE: For briefings in NAVAIR Booth 1423,see page 5 of this Show Daily.

Day 1April 7, 2014

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tively with us when they see these types of tangible bene-fits and returns.

How do Foreign Military Sales benefit U.S. nationalsecurity?SHANNON: Ifyou’re in any kind ofprogram or any kindof relationship orpartnership, you arenot likely to fightwith whomever thatis. With countries wehave FMS caseswith, whom we havepartnerships with,we’re going to workout whatever differ-ences we have. We’renot going to get intoa fight. Just thatalone is adding to na-tional security.

These relationshipsalso are widely recog-nized throughout the world, so any potential adversary thatsees that the United States has a foreign military sale of alarge weapon system with a certain country, they are goingto recognize those two counties now have a relationship. Dothey want to go up against the United States because thisother country has a relationship with them? That defensethrough multiple interested parties becomes greater, and apotential adversary may not want to take us on because ofthat relationship we have with this other country.

National security is really defined by the requirementsled by the combatant commanders, and then the maritimecomponent commanders, in how they have specific require-ments for national security. One of the objectives that theyalways talk about is improved interoperability — defenseburden-sharing so that the United States does not have tohandle that burden all on their own. Also, building partnercapacity so that they can share the burden. So there is aclear requirement there that comes down from a combatantcommander who may say a certain country needs a betterair-defense capability. Can we sell them the Aegis combatsystem? And, then, that lends to that regional security thatis important to our national security.

Finally we add or benefit national security by benefitingour own industrial base. When you have a foreign militarysale, our industrial base benefits from that and, for your in-dustrial base to be healthy and ready and to be able to re-spond to any national crisis, they have to be working all thetime. When a crisis happens, it is the industrial base that isgoing jump start any military build-up.

VENLET: RADM Shannon has primary interaction with

the many ways in which FMS benefits the American de-fense industrial base and, by extension, U.S. national secu-rity. As director, International Engagement, I primarily seethe equally strategic benefits FMS extends to another typeof “ship” building industry — the building of relationships,partnerships and friendships.

The recently released Quadrennial Defense Reviewbuilds on the 2012 Defense Strategic Guidance goal of be-coming “the security partner of choice” to address regionaland global trends in the security environment amid increas-ing fiscal austerity. In an increasingly crowded and compet-itive field of potential security partners, FMS facilitates thetype of direct persistent and personal contact that ensuresthe right connections are in place when we need them. Justas weapons system development and procurement does notoccur overnight, trust and cooperation are also built overtime. The day to start building alliances and partnerships isNOT the day that we find out that we need each other toaddress a threat. Congruent policies, similarity of interestsand interoperability must all be well established to providean effective deterrent to potential maritime threats.

How do the diplomatic relationships forged by ForeignArea Officers (FAOs) and other liaison officers influ-ence FMS acquisition programs?VENLET: Navy FAOs are experts at operating in-country.They offer a persistent presence that generates a great dealof personal and professional credibility by furnishing part-ners the most suitable equipment and training within their

budgetary and pol-icy constraints.This credibilityplays a big role inforeign govern-ments’ confidencein investing inlong-term securityrelationships withthe United Statesvia FMS. As theNavy’s seniorFAO, I am particu-larly proud of mycommunity’s con-tributions to layingthis type ofgroundwork forFMS.

FAOs’ service inover 70 countrieshelps us under-stand partner na-

tions’ strategic priorities and organizational structures. Ourrepeated experience in security cooperation positions helpsus better understand the full range of FMS options and ex-pedite contracting timelines, while setting realistic expecta-

LISA NIPP

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LISA NIPP

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tions with the host nation. Our proficiency in over 30 lan-guages helps FAOs understand and more effectively com-municate the broader context of FMS cases to ensure theycontinue to advance both U.S. and partner objectives.

What kinds of naval platforms and systems are alliesand partners most interested in acquiring from theUnited States?

SHANNON: Countries want a battle-tested system. Theyknow if the United States fought with it, it is battle-tested.They could see the results [and] they know it is high qual-ity. Second, they want state of the art, and the innovation ofthe American product is second to none. Third, they lookfor what the United States is buying. They want to jump onthat bandwagon and be part of that. And fourth, they are in-terested in what are we not using but is still of pretty goodquality, what we call EDA, or Excess Defense Articles.

MRAPs [Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles]have been battle-tested in Operations Enduring Freedomand Iraqi Freedom. As we pull out of those theaters, we ac-tually have a lot of MRAPs available and countries wantthose MRAPs. I would not consider them necessarily ex-cess; it just so happens that we have a whole lot of themand we’re not going to need all of them in the near future.

A state-of-the-art example would be the V-22 [Ospreytiltrotor] aircraft. There is no other aircraft like it around theworld, and the ability to insert and extract troops is betterthan any aircraft that we can provide today. Also, for hu-manitarian and disaster relief operations or evacuation jobsof any sort, the V-22 is a great platform because of its longlegs and its ability to go fast and, also, to go vertical and togo into areas that an airplane couldn’t go. So there is inter-est in that capability.

What we are buying today? The United States is buyingthe F-35 along with many other countries. Other countriesare buying it because the United States was first buying thisjoint airplane. The U.S. Navy is heavily invested in theAegis system, so there are a lot of countries interested inthat Aegis technology.

Finally, in terms of EDA, the P-3 [maritime patrol air-craft], being replaced by the P-8, is still a great airframe, agreat platform. A lot of countries are interested in that mar-itime patrol capability. S-3 [Viking anti-submarine aircraft],which we don’t fly anymore, are available as EDA. Coun-tries are interested in that capability. And the Perry-classguided-missile frigate — there are a lot of countries inter-ested in that. Those are Excess Defense Articles. They stillhave life in them. They are obsolete in our Navy but theyare still available for other countries to use.

How can the U.S. defense industry best address themarket in naval Foreign Military Sales?SHANNON: The same principles that apply at home,apply abroad. There is nothing different when you look atthe markets. It is a very sophisticated market on the interna-tional scene. My advice to industry: their designs need to

be modular, to be as cost-focused as they can, and to em-brace open architecture that gives them the flexibility oftheir designs to support customer need. They need to designupfront exportability features, meaning protective features.The U.S. taxpayer dollars are spent for all the investment inthe initial design, so we need to have some protective fea-tures on them if we’re going to export them. That should bedone upfront, when it is more affordable than if you were toadd those protective features later on in the program.

You’ve got to have a balance between the three C’s: ca-pacity, capability and cost. If you are in the business of sell-ing arms, you have to be able to offer your potentialcustomers some kind of capability and capacity at a costthey could afford. Often, our systems are very expensiveand we’re lucky in the United States that we can affordthese things. When other countries interested in these prod-ucts first see the price, there is sticker shock. That doesn’tmean that you can only offer the same system that theUnited States has, but they could afford maybe a more af-fordable system built on the same design and evolve it andimprove it over time. That is where open architecture andmodular design are so important.

Last but not least, I tell them, “Don’t try to hit for thefence every time you’re at bat if you are trying to get out inthat market.” They need to build relationships, too, just likeat the government level. We work really hard building rela-tionships with strategic partners. If they are only trying toget the big sale and they are always trying to hit for thefence, they are probably going to strike out more often thanif they try to get in and build that relationship over time.

They need to realize that the competition is even greateron the international market. Our industrial base benefits in-side the United States in that the U.S. government has in-vested heavily in defense and in U.S. products, so there isnot as much foreign competition inside the United States.When you get outside the United States, the foreign com-petition is equal and they [U.S. industry] have to be able tocompete with that capability. There are a lot of foreigncompetitors that provide a lot of capability [and] capacityat a cost that is sometimes more attractive to the foreigncustomer.What U.S. policies, such as export controls, for exam-ple, complicate or are a challenge for Foreign MilitarySales?VENLET: While the bulk of these policies and export con-trols fall more in RADM Shannon’s lane, I can tell you thatbalancing our security requirements with the demands ofour FMS customers — all while maintaining their trust —is always a challenge. We need to be open with our partnersand allies about the constraints we operate under while ad-dressing their requirements as fully as possible.

Consideration must also be given to partner and alliedpolicies with respect to FMS procurement. In other words,what restrictions can or are they willing to accept as part ofthe deal? This is where our knowledge “on the ground”pays off in terms of insight into what constitutes acceptableterms from their perspective.

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ONR, labs display pioneering technologiesBy OFFICE OF NAVAL RESEARCH

From unmanned vehicles to explosive-resistant coatings,the Office of Naval Research (ONR), Naval Research Lab-oratory (NRL) and Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory(MCWL) will showcase a range of technologies at the 2014Sea-Air-Space Exposition April 7-9.

Program officers from ONR, NRL and MCWL will beon hand in Booth 1014 to discuss their pioneering workand potential research opportunities, including those forsmall businesses.

One of the featured technologies could help reduce trau-matic brain injuries resulting from blast incidents. Throughbasic research and applied science, ONR is studying the useof special polymers in helmets to dissipate and divert shockpressure from the head more effectively than Kevlar orother ballistic material. In addition, these polymers will en-hance the ballistic performance of Kevlar while keeping theweight of the helmet the same.

Visitors to the booth also may notice a small helicopter, ornano quadrotor, flying around and attempting to land on awind-tunnel ship model. This display illustrates researchbeing done to support naval shipboard landings, which areunique to the service and difficult due to air wake turbulenceand ship deck motion. Navy scientists are investigating waysto measure and predict these dynamic conditions to moresafely launch and recover both fixed-wing and rotary-wingaircraft from naval vessels.

Other technologies on display include:■ Affordable Modular Panoramic Photonics Mast — a newsubmarine sensor mast with 360-degree panoramic searchcapability in both visible and infrared wavelengths.■ eXperimental Fuel Cell unmanned aerial system (UAS)— a tube-launched autonomous vehicle designed as an ex-pendable, long-endurance platform for intelligence, surveil-lance and reconnaissance (ISR).■ Raven — a lightweight unmanned air vehicle with real-time video streaming cameras.■ Stalker — a UAS with long-endurance imaging capacitythat uses a variety of day- and night-vision cameras with

target locking and tracking.■ Shrike — a vertical takeoff and landing Group 1 SmallUAS designed to provide ISR to small units through man-ual or autonomous operation.

Also on tap, Chief of Naval Research Rear Adm.Matthew L. Klunder will participate in a panel discussionon “Innovation and Supporting the Warfighter” April 8from 9 to 10:30 a.m.

The panel will be moderated by Vice Adm. Paul A.Grosklags, principal military deputy assistant secretary ofthe Navy for research, development and acquisition, andfeature commanders from Marine Corps Systems Com-mand, Naval Supply Systems Command, Space and NavalWarfare Systems Command, Naval Air Systems Commandand Naval Sea Systems Command, as well as the assistantcommandant for acquisition at the Coast Guard.

NAVSEA-AUTEC ILLUSTRATION

Deployed from the submerged submarine USS Providence, the Naval Research Laboratory-developed XFC unmanned aircraft is verticallylaunched from a “Sea Robin” launch vehicle, bottom right. The foldingwing system autonomously deploys its X-wing airfoil and, after achieving a marginal altitude, assumes horizontal flight configuration.

NAVSEA to hold media availabilities at Sea-Air-SpaceKey officials from the Naval Sea Systems Command

(NAVSEA) and affiliated program executive offices (PEOs)will hold media availabilities in NAVSEA’s exhibit boothduring the 2014 Sea-Air-Space Exposition.

NAVSEA is in Booth 2323 and will feature program up-dates from NAVSEA/PEO leadership and supporting industrypartners. Media availability for April 7 is as follows:

10:30 a.m. — Capt. Mark Vandroff, program managerfor DDG 51 acquisition; Nick Nichols, General DynamicsBath Iron Works (BIW); George Nungesser, Huntington In-galls Industries.

11 a.m. — Capt. Jim Downey, program manager forDDG 1000 acquisition; Brent West, BIW.

11:30 a.m. — Surface Ship Torpedo Defense, Capt.Moises DelToro, program manager for undersea defensivewarfare systems; Bruce Gallemore, 3Phoenix.

2 p.m. — Electromagnetic Railgun Announcement (withvideo presentation), Rear Adm. Bryant Fuller, Navy chiefengineer; Rear Adm. Matt Klunder, chief of naval research.

3:30 p.m. — Naval Surface Warfare Center TechnologyDemo, Rear Adm. Larry Creevy, NSWC commander.

‘Eyes of the fleet’ celebrate 50 yearsOn Jan. 19, 1964, the U.S. Navy delivered the first E-2

Hawkeye aircraft to Carrier Airborne Early WarningSquadron (VAW) 11, becoming the Navy’s primary, specifi-cally designed, all-weather, carrier-based air-borne early warning, command and control,aircraft. This year the E-2/C-2 AirborneTactical Data System Program Office(PMA-231) celebrates the 50th an-niversary of the delivery and hasdesignated 2014 as the Year of theHawkeye.

Throughout this year, PMA-231 will highlight the E-2 Hawk-eye through special events,podcasts, videos, photos andarticles, culminating in the E-2DAdvanced Hawkeye’s InitialOperation Capability planned forfiscal 2015.

“It’s an exciting time for the E-2 com-munity,” said Capt. John S. Lemmon,PMA-231 program manager. “The E-2Hawkeye has served as the ‘eyes of the fleet’ for thelast 50 years. The E-2D Advanced Hawkeye will continuethis legacy as the newest variant of the E-2 aircraft platformwith its upgraded radar system, communications suite, mis-sion computer and the incorporation of an all-glass cockpit

and tactical fourth operator display.”The E-2D joins the E-2C and Hawkeye 2000 in provid-

ing its command and control capability to coordinate multi-ple missions, including air warfare, strike

warfare, surface warfare and search and res-cue operations. Acting as a “digital quar-

terback,” the E-2 surveils theenvironment with its onboard sensors

and processes this data with its tac-tical mission computer. It distrib-utes the tactical picture tocommand centers and other assetsthrough its onboard communica-tion subsystems. The Navy alsoutilizes this capability to partici-pate in humanitarian and disaster

relief operations. The E-2D Hawkeye is slated to

deploy with the first operationalsquadron, VAW 125, in the early part of

fiscal 2015. For more information on Yearof the Hawkeye, including an anniversary

logo and video, visit www.navair.navy.mil/Hawkeye. Lemmon will discuss the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye, E-

2C Hawkeye and C-2A Greyhound during a Sea-Air-Space 2014 media briefing today at 2 p.m. in EasternShore 8.

Future Force: Quarterly naval S&T magazine makes debutBy OFFICE OF NAVAL RESEARCH

Future Force, a new quarterly magazine covering scien-tific research and technological breakthroughs across theDepartment of the Navy, is making its debut at the 2014Sea-Air-Space Exposition.

The magazine is produced by and for the entire naval sci-ence and technology (S&T) community to highlight newcapabilities being pursued by researchers and relevant ap-plications for Sailors and Marines.

The inaugural issue of Future Force features in-depth ar-ticles by U.S. Navy and Marine Corps experts on auton-omy, an S&T area making an impact on everything fromcargo deliveries with unmanned helicopters to advancedcomputing, sensors and robotics.

Copies of the spring issue are available at the followingbooths:■ Office of Naval Research, Booth 1014.■ Naval Sea Systems Command, Booth 2323.■ Naval Air Systems Command, Booth 1423.■ Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command, Booths2803 and 2802.

The magazine can be viewed online at http://future-force.navylive.dodlive.mil/.

The summerissue of FutureForce will coverthe topic of infor-mation dominance.

The Departmentof the Navy’s Of-fice of Naval Re-search (ONR)provides the sci-ence and technol-ogy necessary tomaintain the Navyand Marine Corps’technological ad-vantage. Throughits affiliates, ONRis a leader in sci-ence and technology with engagement in 50 states, 70countries, 1,035 institutions of higher learning and 914 in-dustry partners. ONR employs approximately 1,400 peo-ple, comprising uniformed, civilian and contractpersonnel, with additional employees at the Naval Re-search Lab in Washington.

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What’s cooking at NAVSUP today?Navy Culinary Specialists (CSs) return to Sea-Air-Space

this year, cooking up their signature dishes at the NavalSupply Systems Command (NAVSUP) Booth 2337.

Members of the CS community from afloat, ashore, En-listed Aide and recent competition winners will featuretheir signature and award-winning dishes. The demonstra-tions will highlight a variety of culinary skills, with limitedsamples available during each demonstration.

Meet the culinary specialists who created and executedthese dishes and find out what it takes to be a CS servingthe fleet afloat and ashore. The Navy’s Corporate ExecutiveChef will be available every day to answer questions andshare information.

Several members of the 2014 culinary competition teamwill demonstrate their gold- and silver-medal dishes incooking demonstrations today at 9 and 10:30 a.m., noon,1:30 and 3 p.m. Pan-seared red fish, Sous Vide pork tender-loin and chicken breast with turkey sausage are some of thedishes on today’s schedule.

Representatives from the Navy Exchange Service Com-mand (NEXCOM) also will be in the NAVSUP booth toshare information about the entire NEXCOM Enterprise.

NEXCOM, a NAVSUP Echelon III command, is head-quarters for the worldwide NEXCOM Enterprise. Its missionis to provide authorized customers with quality goods andservices at a savings and to support quality-of-life programs

for active-duty military, retirees, Reservists and their families. NEXCOM oversees six primary business lines: Navy

Exchange Retail Stores and Services; Navy Lodge Pro-gram; Uniform Program Management Office; Navy Cloth-ing Textile and Research Facility; Ship’s Stores Program;and Telecommunications Program Office.

JONATHAN ERNST

Navy Culinary Specialists carved this Chief of Navy Reserve seal at the 2013Sea-Air-Space Expo. They will be back in action again this year, cooking upaward-winning fare during demonstrations each day of the show.

U.S. NAVY

Adm. William E. Gortney, commander of U.S. Fleet Forces Command, addresses the Culinary Specialists at Naval Station Norfolk on March 17 who participated at the 39th annual Military Culinary Arts Competitive Training Event (MCACTE), held at Fort Lee, Va., March 9-14. As one of the largest culinary competitions in North America, the MCACTE has showcased the talents of military chefs from all branches of the U.S. armed forces since 1973.Gortney, who was given a chef coat as a gift from the Navy culinary team, recognized the team for winning the most gold medals at the MCACTE.

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Navy’s IRST system successfullycompletes first flight aboard F/A-18

The Navy’s Infrared Search and Track (IRST), a passive,long-range sensor that searches for and detects heat sources,successfully completed its first flight aboard an F/A-18Super Hornet Feb. 11 from Edwards Air Force Base, Calif.

The system can simultaneously track multiple targets andprovide a highly effective air-to-air targeting capability,even when encountering advanced threats equipped withradar-jamming technology.

Because IRST is passive, unlike radar systems, it doesnot give off radiation and is harder to detect.

“Adding an advanced infrared sensor to the Super Hornetbroadens the Navy’s warfighting ability,” said Capt. FrankMorley, the F/A-18 and EA-18G Program Office’s (PMA-265) program manager. “Combined with the Super Hornet’sadvanced radar and the Growler’s electronic-attack radar-jamming ability, IRST will transform the way the SuperHornet conducts air-to-air operations and allows the fleet todominate the skies in all threat environments. It is truly agame-changing capability.”

The requirement for an IRST on the Super Hornet is thedirect result of advancements in threat electronic-warfaresystems. The system, manufactured by Lockheed Martin,provides the F/A-18 Super Hornet an alternate air-to-air tar-geting system in a high-threat electronic-attack environment.

“I am proud of how we have worked with our industrypartners, Boeing and Lockheed Martin, to bring this much-needed detection capability one step closer to the fleet,” saidBrian Hall, deputy program manager for Spectrum Domi-nance in PMA-265. “As the current threat environment con-tinues to evolve, PMA-265 continues to advance the fleet

and warfighter in order to stay ahead of these threats.”The first flight was completed by Lt. Jonathan “Dos

Equis” Beaton and Lt. David “Fritzl” Parnell of Air Testand Evaluation Squadron (VX) 31 with support from theNaval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division Test Team ledby Dave Coit. Randell Brenner and Brian Winder fulfilledflight test engineer roles, and Robert Baker providedground support.

“The entire team at VX-31 and the F/A-18 AdvancedWeapons Laboratory, together with their industry partners,spent the weeks before the event diligently preparing theIRST for flight,” said Cmdr. Jean LeBlanc, deputy programmanager for Spectrum Dominance. “The success of theseefforts, coordinated across multiple U.S. locations, wasproven during the two-hour sortie over the southern Cali-fornia desert.”

IRST is just one of the Navy’s F/A-18E/F flight-plan ca-pabilities designed to ensure the Block II Super Hornet willstay ahead of known and emerging threats through 2025and beyond.

Other F/A-18E/F Super Hornet next-generation capabili-ties included in the flight plan are advanced fused sensors,Active Electronically Scanned Array Radar, Counter Elec-tronic Attack, Distributed Targeting System, Multi-sensorIntegration, Anti-Surface Warfare, IP-Based Linked Net-works and advanced air-to-ground and air-to-air precisionweapons operating on an open-architecture backplane.

“With the successful completion of the IRST first flight,we are looking forward to moving on to the next steps re-quired to field this invaluable capability,” Morley said.

LOCKHEED MARTIN

The crew of the F/A-18 Super Hornet carrying the Navy’s Infrared Search and Track, a long-wave infrared sensor system that searches for and detects heatsources within its field of regard, inspects the aircraft Feb. 11 before the maiden flight with the pod at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif.

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Virtual gaming concept used to promote readiness

Blending actual aircraft, flight sim-ulators and computer-generated enti-ties to train in a common, enhancedvirtual environment, the Departmentof the Navy has developed a gaming-like effort that promotes readinesswithin naval aviation.

Called Live, Virtual Constructive, orLVC, the synthetic atmosphere allowsfor manipulation of diverse operatingscenarios, realistic adversary capabili-ties and appropriate battlespace possi-bilities, Navy officials said, adding thatLVC replicates potential operationalenvironments, including joint forcesand partner nation representation andparticipation.

“The Navy and Marine Corps’ in-vestment in future warfighting capa-bilities enables military forces toconsistently provide protection againstcurrent and prospective adversaries,”said Capt. Craig Dorrans, Naval Avia-tion Training Systems’ (PMA-205)program manager, who is leading theLVC effort for Naval Air SystemsCommand (NAVAIR), Patuxent River,Md. Dorrans will discuss the Fleet In-tegrated Training Environment featur-ing the LVC capability at the 2014Sea-Air-Space Expo today from 2:30-3:30 p.m. at NAVAIR’s Booth 1423.

Utilizing Fleet Synthetic Training-Aviation (FST-A), simulators from var-ious platforms can “connect” to trainfor real-world scenarios, the Navy said.

Both LVC and FST-A will improvethe readiness of the warfighter by pro-viding the fleet training opportunitiesthat would be too costly or complicatedto coordinate using only live assets.The intent is to integrate all new sys-tems, and legacy systems, if feasible,into a LVC training capability.

For more information, please con-tact Paula Paige, public affairs officerfor NAVAIR’s AIR-1.0 (ProgramManagement), 240-434-3302, orpaula.paige@navy.mil.

‘Fight, Let’s Go — Join the Navy’ By McClelland Barclay; Recruiting Poster, 1941Naval History & Heritage Command (NHHC) presents “D-Day at 70: A History Lesson in Forward. Mobile. Ready.” Take a walk through time and visit the NHHC exhibit as it illuminates the past with artifacts and information from the Navy’s presence during D-Day. Visit NHHC in the Potomac Lobby, table 1.