image: Lt. Cmdr. Patrick Heitman (center-right) and Lt. Sean Carpenter (center-left) from the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory Scientific Development Squadron One (VXS-1) discuss squadron capabilities at the 2025 Sea Air Space expo in National Harbor, Md. April 8, 2025. VXS-1 conducts airborne scientific experimentation and advanced technology development in worldwide operations supporting U.S. Navy and national science and technology priorities and war fighting goals. (U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson)
Credit: U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Peterson
NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. — The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) highlighted its latest advancements in defense technology at the Sea-Air-Space Conference and Exposition, held April 7-9, 2025, at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center. As the premier maritime exposition in the United States, Sea-Air-Space provided an ideal platform for NRL to demonstrate its innovative contributions to national defense.
NRL’s exhibit featured a range of pioneering technologies aimed at enhancing the capabilities of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps.
The OmniGlobe is a large, illuminated spherical display that visualizes Earth’s environmental data—atmosphere, oceans, and geophysics— and shows natural interconnections. NRL’s Ocean Dynamics and Prediction Branch, developed software to convert our system images into the specific format required for the globe. NRL developed the software that created the content being shown.
An expert on NRL’s Maritime Domain Awareness tool, PROTEUS, provided demonstrations for attendees. PROTEUS provides near real-time global tracking and analysis of maritime vessels using multiple data sources.
“We’re working with NOAA’s Office of Law Enforcement on a project at Flower Garden Banks to help identify Illegal fishing activity,” said Jeff Harris, Senior Software Test Engineer, and member of NRL PROTEUS team. “Our role is to integrate data from multiple sources and visualize it for operations in real time.”
NRL’s Scientific Development Squadron ONE, or VXS-1, was on site to talk with attendees about global airborne science missions to support Navy research and tech development with customized aircraft platforms.
“If someone wants to test equipment and it fits on the plane our project specialists can reconfigure the aircraft for just about any mission,” said Lt. Sean Carpenter, a naval flight officer with VXS-1. “A great example of that is a project we worked on with the NOPP Hurricane Coastal Impacts, where we deployed sensor buoys to improve hurricane forecasting. We flew low to the water and launched buoys out of the main cabin door to gather real-time data that can help save lives.”
Several models of coronagraphs were on display with experts to talk about solar imaging sensors that detect solar plasma and forecast space weather impacts on Earth.
“NRL has been building coronagraphs since the mid-1960s,” said Damien Chua, physicist with NRL’s Space Science Division. “In fact, in 1971, our instrument made the first optical detection of a coronal mass ejection.”
“As we deploy more systems in space and the air, space weather will increasingly impact performance and reliability—so raising awareness is critical,” Chua added.
“Now NRL has our nation’s first solar coronagraph for operations—dedicated to providing real-time data for NOAA’s space weather forecasts, supporting both civil and military operations,” he said.
Other exhibits included:
- NRL’s Skyfish Sonar, a synthetic aperture sonar system designed to detect and classify underwater objects, including those buried in the seafloor.
- Quantum Inertial Navigation, a next-gen self-contained navigation system using quantum technology to vastly improve accuracy over traditional inertial methods.
- Variable Speed Wind Tunnel, a wind tunnel used to test aerodynamic designs at altitudes up to 30 km and speeds from Mach 1.5 to 5+.
- LARADO, a space-based laser system designed to detect small pieces of orbital debris too small to track from Earth.
- NRL’s Naval Center for Space Technology Spaceflight Instruments: NCSTdesigns and builds space systems and instruments, from components to full spacecraft for national security missions.
- Space Robotics including a robotic satellite servicing systems to inspect, repair, and upgrade spacecraft in orbit.
- Space Solar Power Beaming which uses microwaves to wirelessly transfer solar energy from space to Earth for efficient, point-to-point power.
NRL’s participation underscored its commitment to advancing defense technologies across multiple domains. The event facilitated valuable discussions and collaborations with industry leaders and military decision-makers, reinforcing NRL’s role in shaping the future of maritime operations.
About the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory
NRL is a scientific and engineering command dedicated to research that drives innovative advances for the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps from the seafloor to space and in the information domain. NRL, located in Washington, D.C. with major field sites in Stennis Space Center, Mississippi; Key West, Florida; Monterey, California, and employs approximately 3,000 civilian scientists, engineers and support personnel.
For more information, contact NRL Corporate Communications at (202) 480-3746 or nrlpao@nrl.navy.mil. Please reference package number at top of press release.
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