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Wasp Hosts Trident Warrior Experiment 2011

Navy News Service

Story Number: NNS110731-01
7/31/2011

By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Jah'mai C. J. Stokes, USS Wasp Public Affairs

NORFOLK, Va. (NNS) -- Trident Warrior 2011 (TW11) began July 26 aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1) with the first in a series of numerous technological experiments. The annual event, scheduled to run until August 1, is designed to test mature emerging technologies, tactics, techniques and procedures.

The event is being hosted on board the amphibious assault ship and is being played out on six other ships currently underway in the Virginia Capes area of operation.

The primary goals of TW11 are to improve networks capabilities, platform tactical communication networks, and interoperability between U.S. and coalition partners.

In keeping with the ship's motto, "#1 is not just a number on the hull, it's an attitude," Wasp is the first amphibious assault ship to participate in, and serve as the lead platform for the Trident Warrior experiment.

"We won't know if it will work until you put it into the salt water environment," said Cmdr. Benjamin Salazar, Trident Warrior director. "We will be conducting multiple experiments ranging from testing infrared optics to using unmanned reconnaissance aircraft. This is the first time we are using the Scan Eagle system to see if we are capable of transmitting information during a war fighting environment between ships and shore commands in near real time."

Trident Warrior is an annual fleet experiment directed by U.S. Fleet Forces Command, sponsored by U.S. 2nd and U.S. 5th Fleets with a mission to improve and enhance the Navy's information dominance and policies, procedures and interoperability between U.S. forces and coalition partners during maritime war fighting.

"This is an experiment that will integrate our communication systems with Trident Warrior's advanced communication systems," said Information Systems Technician 1st Class (SW) Paul Zona. "Since WASP has a very unique communication system we will be the lead test command for Trident Warrior to evaluate its effectiveness on how information is passed from satellites to us here on ships and elsewhere."

According to Zona, Wasp was selected for this experiment because the ships compatible network layout, which is somewhat unique in the fleet. Wasp workstations have 100 gigabytes, but the back-up servers are 10 times faster than other ships.

Although the supporting equipment used by Trident Warrior is integrated into Wasp, it is not expected to interfere with the ship's internet capabilities or e-mail access. This experiment is to monitor networks and communication.

"This experiment gives Wasp and the U.S. Navy the opportunity to improve our communication systems and capabilities," said Information Systems Technician 2nd Class Darren Cornelison. "War is no longer being staged in the traditional sense like we know it, but through technology, and we need to make sure that our networks are able to withstand attacks from our enemies and allow the U.S. to communicate between different commands and with foreign allies."

Starting in 2003, Trident Warrior has contributed to more than 600 programs record initiatives, more than 250 non-programs of record, and validated and improved more than 110 tactics, techniques and procedures.

"The future of wars will be fought in cyber space," said Cornelison. "Trident Warrior is needed because it will help keep U.S. forces on their toes with tech warfare. The findings from the experiment will eventually help secure our networks from future attacks by our enemies. And equally important, it will also help us effectively exchange information with our allies."

Wasp and her crew have worked diligently over the past several months to make sure she is fully operational when called upon. With Wasp hosting the majority of the capabilities being examined in the experiment, a successful completion to TW11 will be just another notch towards that goal.

"I am glad Wasp is taking on a challenge like this," said Zona. "It provides us with another opportunity to improve and tighten our security, so Wasp can add another mark to being number one in the fleet, as we have the number one network."

Experimentation from TW11 is designed to provide answers to detailed analytical questions involving more than 50 initiatives to accelerate the process of getting them into the hands of the warfighter. Overall, the results of TW11 experimentation aim to affect future doctrine and enhance the technologies, ultimately allowing the warfighter to stay ahead of its adversary in the rapidly changing environment.