Remote Cybersecurity Scans and F-35 Updates: A US Navy Aircraft Carrier Gets High-Speed Internet

An aircraft carrier in the U.S. Navy tested 'vastly increased' levels of internet connectivity, reports the defense-news web site TWZ, callling it 'a game-changer for what a ship, and its sailors, can do while at sea.'

The F-35 Joint Strike Fighters assigned to the carrier offer a case in point for what more shipboard bandwidth — provided by commercial providers like Starlink and OneWeb — can mean at the tactical level. Jets with the embarked Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 314 took on critical mission data file updates in record time last fall due to the carrier's internet innovations, a capability that is slated to expand across the fleet. 'This file offers intelligence updates and design enhancements that enable pilots to identify and counter threats in specific operational environments,' the Navy said in an October release announcing the feat. 'The update incorporated more than 100 intelligence changes and multiple design improvements, significantly enhancing the aircraft's survivability and lethality....' [Capt. Kevin White, then the Lincoln's combat systems officer] noted how the F-35 'eats and breathes data daily,' and it has to be shared with commands ashore. The connectivity innovations he's pioneered will enable such data transfers, which will only grow more complex over time. 'If you can't get the data onboard, you're probably going to be at a loss,' White said. 'So large file transfer capability increases combat readiness....'

When the system was on, it provided not only mission benefits, but benefits to the hard-working Lincoln crew as well, which was at sea for 107 days at one point with no port calls [Capt. Pete 'Repete' Riebe, told WEST conference attendees]... White said the average age of an embarked Lincoln sailor was 20.8, and Riebe noted that to attract young people into service, the Navy needs to recognize the innate connection they have to their devices. 'The next generation of sailors grew up with a cell phone in their hand, and they are uncomfortable without it,' Riebe said. 'I don't necessarily like that, but that's reality, and if we want to compete for the best folks coming into the Navy, we need to offer them bandwidth at sea.' Having better connectivity also helped with the ship's administrative functions, Riebe said, making medical, dental and other work far easier than they have been in the past...

A sailor who can FaceTime with his family back home carries less non-Navy stress with them as they focus on the life-or-death duties at hand, White said... This beefed-up bandwidth allowed 38 sailors to witness the birth of their child, while others were able to watch their kids' sporting events, White said. Several crew members pursued doctorate and master's degrees while deployed due to better internet, while others were able to deal with personal or legal issues they had left behind back home. One officer was able to commission his wife remotely from the ship... On the operational side, from 'the most desolate waters,' Lincoln used its bandwidth to connect with a command in Norfolk, which undertook the ship's annual cybersecurity scans 'from halfway around the world,' White said... Taxpayer dollars can also be saved if a ship isn't paying for WiFi access while in port, White noted, and the crew was able to start getting to know Italian allies online before an exercise, enhancing the personal aspects of such partnerships.

More bandwidth also means more onboard training, meaning some sailors who don't have to leave to go to the school house, and sailors were able to get answers to maintenance questions from ashore commands faster as well. 'Just by being able to have more reliable access to support resources, we definitely become more effective at maintenance,' White said.

Every day the aircraft carrier averaged four to eight terabytes of transferred data, according to the article (with a team of two full-time system administrators managing 7,000 IP addresses), and ultimately saw 780 terabytes of data transferred over five-and-a-half months. The article notes it's part of the Navy's larger 'Sailor Edge Afloat and Ashore' (SEA2) program to provide all its warships with high-bandwidth connectivity around the world.

The program 'involves moving some communications aspects away from proprietary Defense Department satellites, while leaning on commercial satellite constellations and even cellular providers to keep ships more connected at sea for both personal and tactical uses.'
Thanks to long-time Slashdot reader SonicSpike for sharing the article.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.