The U.S. Marine Corps and Navy hosted a 10-day exercise in April for defense, commercial and academic organizations to showcase emerging technology platforms such as unmanned aerial, multi-utility tactical transport and autonomous assault amphibious vehicles.The Defense Department said Wednesday that its civilian employees, contractors and members of the Office of Naval Research and other research laboratories participated in the Ship-to-Shore Maneuver Exploration and Experimentation Advanced Naval Technology Exercise 2017 that occurred at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton in California.
S2ME2 ANTX participants demonstrated technologies in five amphibious operational areas including ship-to-shore maneuver, weapons fire support and effects, command and control, clearing assault lanes and information warfare.
“The large scope of this exercise allows the Navy and Marine Corps to make informed decisions about future generations of technology for use by the warfighter,” said David Walker, ONRÂ director of technology.
“This pairing of sailors and Marines with scientists and technologists will help move innovation at a faster pace.”
The event also showcased ONR- and Naval Research Laboratory-sponsored systems such as the Battlespace Exploitation of Mixed Reality Laboratory, Mine Warfare Rapid Assessment Capability quadcopter and the Coalition Tactical Awareness and Response system.
DoD noted that some of the technologies presented during S2ME2 ANTX might also be featured at the upcoming Bold Alligator, a multinational series of amphibious exercises co-hosted by the Marine Corps Forces Command and the U.S. Fleet Forces Command.
