Other expeditionary operations may result in landing forces conducting sanction enforcement operations, noncombatant evacuations operations, and humanitarian assistance. To a large extent, adaptability is dependent on the watercraft employed. They must also be strategically transportable consistent with at sea tactical integration. The nature of the riverine environment, coupled with the proliferation of advanced weapons, to include mines, makes MORE extremely challenging to forward deployed forces. Operations conducted at eight knots are no longer viable.
Forces operating in the riverine environment face harsh survivability issues.
Survivable, deployable craft that minimize detection by the enemy and acquisition by advanced weapons are vital. These attributes currently are achieved through a mix of stealth, speed, maneuverability, and armor. It is imperative that watercraft have the optimum mix of these features, with the additional capability to operate substantially faster and quieter than current options, and still be readily deployable. Riverine forces must be able to detect explosive and nonexplosive obstacles and whenever possible maneuver to avoid them. When tactical conditions do not permit mine obstacle avoidance, waterborne forces must be able to conduct rapid, in-stride breaching operations.