Naval Information Warfare Center Atlantic Finds Several Benefactors for C4ISR Help

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. — As head of expeditionary warfare at the Naval Information Warfare Center Atlantic, Kevin Charlow constantly is on the lookout for ways to share good results with as many potential users as possible. 

“We’re focused on trying to deliver capability to the fleet faster — by leveraging our exercise and prototype efforts,” Charlow said during a May 7 interview at Sea-Air-Space 2019. 

To that end, Charlow pointed to a recent case involving a precision navigation unit developed for a U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) combat craft. It turned out that the Marine Corps had a need for a similar unit, for use in its Amphibious Assault Vehicles (AAV). 

“We were able to take that integrated navigation and control capability — one of our SOCOM projects – and leverage that with the Marine Corps AAV,” Charlow said. “Basically, one sponsor funded a solution we’re now sharing with another, and we have a potential win for the warfighters.”

“Pressing forward, we want to deliver C4ISR, and its system and engineering services and solutions, to our major sponsors.”

Kevin charlow

The Marines are testing the system now in Charleston, South Carolina, harbor. 

“Pressing forward, we want to deliver C4ISR [command, control, communications, computer, intelligence, reconnaissance and surveillance], and its system and engineering services and solutions, to our major sponsors,” Charlow said.   

The Navy, Marine Corps and SOCOM are primary benefactors, but the Naval Information Warfare center has helped the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Army as well. 

Besides advances in development of C4ISR prototypes, the center has awarded some $9 million in funding for 20 innovation projects for fiscal year 2019, which began Oct. 1. Its engineers also built and installed a more robust firewall in the Marine Corps’ SIPR (secret internet protocol router) network. The center was able to fulfill an urgent need for the Marines within 10 months.