The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) showcased a compelling portfolio of cutting-edge defense technologies at the 2025 Sea-Air-Space Conference and Exposition, a pivotal maritime technology event held from April 7th to 9th at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland. As the largest maritime exposition in the United States, this event provided an unparalleled forum for NRL to present its latest scientific and engineering breakthroughs designed to bolster naval and national security capabilities in an increasingly complex global environment.
Among the standout exhibits was the OmniGlobe, an innovative large-scale illuminated spherical display that offers a dynamic visualization of Earth’s intertwined environmental systems. This high-resolution globe integrates atmospheric, oceanographic, and geophysical data to elucidate the natural interdependencies shaping the planet. The NRL Ocean Dynamics and Prediction Branch developed sophisticated software tailored to translate intricate environmental datasets into the precise format required for the globe, enabling real-time, comprehensive Earth system visualizations that support both scientific understanding and operational decision-making.
An equally impressive demonstration featured PROTEUS, NRL’s Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) tool designed to provide near real-time global tracking and analysis of maritime vessels. This platform synthesizes data streams from a multitude of sensors and information sources to deliver actionable intelligence for maritime law enforcement and defense operations. Jeff Harris, Senior Software Test Engineer and integral member of the PROTEUS development team, highlighted ongoing collaborations with NOAA’s Office of Law Enforcement. These partnerships aim to combat illegal fishing activities through advanced data fusion and visualization techniques that enhance operational situational awareness over sensitive marine regions like the Flower Garden Banks.
The presence of NRL’s Scientific Development Squadron ONE, known as VXS-1, further underscored the laboratory’s unique capability to support airborne scientific missions tailored to defense research. VXS-1 aircraft are highly customizable, allowing for extensive reconfiguration to support diverse experimental payloads and sensors. Lt. Sean Carpenter, a naval flight officer, elaborated on VXS-1’s instrumental role in deployment efforts such as the NOPP Hurricane Coastal Impacts project, where sensor buoys were strategically launched from aircraft flying low over the water. This real-time data collection approach significantly enhances hurricane forecasting accuracy and contributes critical insights for disaster preparedness and response.
The exposition also spotlighted a lineage of coronagraph instruments critical to solar research and space weather prediction. NRL physicist Damien Chua recounted the laboratory’s pioneering role since the 1960s in developing coronagraphs capable of detecting solar coronal mass ejections (CMEs)—massive bursts of solar plasma that can disrupt satellite communications and power grids on Earth. The current operational solar coronagraph represents the nation’s first dedicated instrument providing real-time data to NOAA’s space weather forecasting center, thus serving both civilian and military stakeholders in mitigating space environment risks.
Additional innovations presented reflected NRL’s broad spectrum of research domains, encompassing underwater, aerospace, and space technologies. The Skyfish Sonar system exemplifies advances in synthetic aperture sonar technology with exceptional capability to detect and classify underwater objects, including those embedded beneath seabed sediments. This breakthrough addresses critical challenges in undersea surveillance and security in cluttered environments.
Quantum Inertial Navigation represents a paradigm shift in navigation technology, leveraging quantum sensors to deliver precision guidance unmatched by classical inertial systems. By exploiting quantum coherence and entanglement, these next-generation navigation aids can provide ultra-accurate positioning data crucial for autonomous platforms operating in contested GPS-denied environments.
The Variable Speed Wind Tunnel exhibited at the event offers a versatile aerodynamic testing facility capable of simulating high-altitude flight conditions with speeds ranging from Mach 1.5 to beyond Mach 5. This capability enables detailed investigation of hypersonic vehicle designs and supports the development of advanced materials and control systems critical to next-generation aerospace platforms.
In the realm of space situational awareness, the LARADO laser system embodies advanced space-based capabilities designed to detect and characterize minute orbital debris fragments. These small debris items pose significant collision risks to satellites but are difficult to track from terrestrial observation systems. LARADO’s precision laser detection technology enhances space traffic management and long-term orbital sustainability.
NRL’s Naval Center for Space Technology (NCST) further highlighted its contributions to national security through the design and fabrication of sophisticated spaceflight instruments and complete spacecraft systems. These platforms are foundational to executing critical defense and scientific missions encompassing Earth observation, space weather monitoring, and advanced communication.
Emerging technologies in space robotics were also featured prominently, including robotic satellite servicing systems capable of inspecting, repairing, and upgrading spacecraft while in orbit. These innovations promise to extend the operational life of high-value assets, reduce space mission costs, and enable new operational concepts in space logistics and maintenance.
Complementing these showcases was a focus on Space Solar Power Beaming—an ambitious technology aimed at transmitting solar energy collected in space wirelessly to Earth via microwave beams. This approach could revolutionize global energy infrastructure by delivering continuous, clean, and location-flexible power, effectively addressing challenges of terrestrial energy intermittency and distribution losses.
NRL’s multifaceted participation at the 2025 Sea-Air-Space Conference reinforced its vital role as a premier scientific and engineering institution dedicated to advancing U.S. naval and national defense capabilities. By fostering collaborations with industry leaders and military decision-makers, NRL continues to drive innovation that spans the seafloor to outer space domains, ensuring technological superiority and operational readiness for future maritime and aerospace challenges.
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News Publication Date: April 8, 2025
Web References: https://mediasvc.eurekalert.org/Api/v1/Multimedia/0391cf38-7e69-46b6-9db0-6fe98cd027be/Rendition/low-res/Content/Public
Image Credits: U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson
Keywords: Military technology, Industrial research, Space policy, Laboratories, Scientific data, Marine engineering, Weather forecasting, Space weather, Planet Earth, Avionics, Quantum information science
