Marine Exercises Showcase Amphibious, Autonomous Defense Systems

Autonomous vehicles, augmented reality systems and advanced wireless networks were among over 50 new technologies showcased during the 2017 Ship-to-Shore Maneuver Exploration and Experimentation (S2ME2) Advanced Naval Technology Exercise (ANTX) series of amphibious beach landings held at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton in California.

An unmanned aerial vehicle launches from a multi-utility tactical transport vehicle after exiting an autonomous assault amphibious vehicle during the Ship-to-Shore Maneuver Exploration and Experimentation (S2ME2) Advanced Naval Technology Exercise (ANTX) 2017 at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton in Calif. S2ME2 ANTX brought together industry, academia and the Naval Research and Development Establishment to demonstrate emerging technology and engineering innovations. Courtesy of John F. Williams.

S2ME2 ANTX brought together industry, academia and the Naval Research and Development Establishment, which includes the Office of Naval Research (ONR) and various research laboratories associated with the U.S. Navy, to demonstrate emerging technology innovations. The exercise involved hundreds of sailors, marines and Department of Defense (DOD) civilian employees and contractors.

By using direct feedback and technical evaluations from participating warfighters and senior leadership in attendance, S2ME2 ANTX also may change the way the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps look at prototyping and rapidly acquiring technology.

"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 E. Walker, ONR's director of technology. "This pairing of sailors and marines with scientists and technologists will help move innovation at a faster pace."

S2ME2 ANTX focused on command and control, amphibious operations, ship-to-shore maneuvers, weapons fire support and effects, clearing assault lanes, and information warfare. Demonstrated technologies included unmanned and autonomous vehicles equipped with sensors to gather intelligence in the air, on land and under water.

Technologies that performed well at S2ME2 ANTX could potentially be featured at Bold Alligator 2017, a multinational series of amphibious exercises led by U.S. Fleet Forces Command and U.S. Marine Corps Forces Command, scheduled for the fall.