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Second Fleet, Air Force Collaborate to Test Technology

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS071121-12
Release Date: 11/21/2007 12:44:00 PM

From Commander, U.S. 2nd Fleet Public Affairs

NORFOLK (NNS) -- The Air Force's Joint Expeditionary Force Experiment 2008-1 (JEFX 08-1) wrapped up Nov. 16.

Commander, 2nd Fleet's Battle Laboratory simulated portions of a Maritime Headquarters with Maritime Operations Center (MHQ with MOC), and linked up with Air Force Air Operation Centers (AOCs) across the country to participate in JEFX 08-1 Nov. 5-16.

"Over all, we did well," said Dr. Tom Forbes, technical director for JEFX 08 and 2nd Fleet's science advisor. "We had some really bright spots, some things that worked well. We had some things that didn't work so well. We learned a lot. You have to push the edge and we did."

"For example," Forbes continued, "We learned that we need more capacity for moving information in and out of our maritime operations center. We bumped against the capacity limit that we have right now on several occasions, and that limited what we could achieve."

The JEFX 08 experiments combine virtual and constructive air, space, naval and ground force simulations, and technology insertion into a near-seamless joint and warfighting environment. The experiment is a venue for establishing groundbreaking command and control technology and fine-tuning processes that can be provided to the joint warfighter.

Second Fleet had two main objectives. The first was to test the processes of the MHQ with MOC and its interoperability with the AOCs. The second goal was to provide maritime sourced fires support in a short timeline fully integrated with other services capabilities.

A MOC consists of the organizational elements of the MHQ that conduct service and joint operations as required by the MHQ commander, and is inclusive of the personnel, processes, methods, and systems supporting those operations.

Through the MHQs with MOC, the Navy is creating a global network of naval-maritime organizations. This network will offer Combatant Commanders a sustained state of maritime readiness, while giving MHQ commanders the ability to smoothly transition from peacetime operations to disaster relief operations and major combat operations, yet still handle fleet management functions.

JEFX 08 leaders will continue to test the operation centers involved in the experiment with fictional scenarios and evaluate the issues faced when they conduct command and control as both a supported and supporting commander.

Forbes and Capt. Mike Smack, MHQ with MOC Director for Commander, 2nd Fleet, agree the processes and systems tested in this experiment could be available to the fleet within the next few years. Once implemented in the fleet, the effects of these systems will be felt all the way down to the deckplates.

"Sailors will have better situational awareness because they'll have a broader, richer view on their environment due to a rapid delivery of information," said Smack. "Sailors will also be able to make more accurate decisions, because of higher information volume and assurance delivered via systems they can trust due to the thoroughness of the experimentation and testing."

JEFX 08 is the seventh in a series of highly focused, multinational, multi-service experiments designed to rigorously assess and make recommendations on selected capabilities that fill identified gaps or produce desired effects in the battle space.