Fortunately, a variety of new technology opportunities in remote sensors, processing and fusion algorithms, computer systems, telecommunications, and earth-observing satellites provide the key to implementing a new approach more attuned to the demands of expeditionary warfare. Ships and aircraft, in situ and satellite sensors, and dedicated analysis and interpretation cells are all brought to bear for producing fast reaction products, such as tactical data bases, special paper charts, and quantitative operational recommendations. These were entered immediately into on-scene prediction models, shared data bases, and specially prepared paper charts of the objective areas. Rapid Response '98 and Dynamic Mix '98 will take place outside the Strait of Gibraltar in the early spring, and we'll be there again. Microsensor technology will provide small, expendable sensors to measure the meso- and microscale environment of atmosphere and ocean in real time.
Examples are tactical dropsondes, drifting buoys and miniaturized weather stations.
Recently, a successful bathymetric survey demonstration of three university-developed UUVs was jointly sponsored by NAVO and ONR off the Mississippi coast. This requires both greater forward access to multi-source data and sufficient computational power to make use of it there. Operational testing commenced in December 1997. Under an ongoing modernization plan, a total of eight new ships will soon be deployed, and six major research vessels will be operated for the Navy by major universities. The sixth and last T-AGS 60 class ship is partially funded in the FY98 budget, and it will complete the current modernization cycle.