The Navy, with a changing landscape of military technology and strategy, is better situated to maintain an advantage in the Indo-Pacific. At the forefront of the aircraft carriers’ strategic maneuvering is ingenuity in the deployment of F-35B Lightning II jets on amphibious assault ships and the integration of augmented reality into tele-maintenance operations.
Not yet satisfied with this advantage, the U.S. Navy is refitting amphibious assault ships like the USS Bataan into “lightning carriers” capable of hosting the F-35B Lightning II jets. This includes the installation of a stronger deck and a new electrical system, all to guarantee flexibility in Navy operations without building more supercarriers.
The executive officer of the ship, Captain Trace Head, outlined extensive modifications for the USS Bataan, saying, “We have to completely revamp the flight deck.” The USS Bataan will be out of the operational roster while this process is underway, estimated at 1.5 years. Lt. Gen. Brian Cavanaugh pointed out how essential these upgrades are, for transitioning from the Harrier to the F-35 on these ships requires special maintenance adjustments.
Fleet Week New York 2023 provided a means to demonstrate the capabilities and innovations of the Navy. One of the main attractions had to be the USS Cooperstown, the first U.S. Navy ship commissioned in New York City in 2009. The commissioning, held in honor of the village of Cooperstown, NY, and the more than 70 members of the Baseball Hall of Fame who served in the military, was attended by baseball legends Joe Torre and Johnny Bench and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, along with Secretary of the Navy Carlos del Toro.
The event also included the USS Wasp, an amphibious assault ship that is similar to an aircraft carrier, but with vertical take-off aircraft, such as the F-35B Lightning II. There were no F-35s on board during Fleet Week, but the Wasp has been instrumental as a test bed for the F-35B variant, which was developed for the Marine Corps and other operators of smaller flight decks throughout the U.S. and allied navies.
It’s what the Marine Corps calls AR-enabled tele-maintenance—a game-changing technology that’s going to be key in keeping maintenance operations up to date. According to AR, Virtual Reality is going to turn that abstract concept of tele-maintenance into real-time, on-demand capability where maintainers may be present whenever needed by a Marine on any front at any time.
AR and VR are technologies that will transform the landscape of tele-maintenance, which is based on phone calls with manual instructions. It enables a much more intuitive and effective way for maintenance performance by technicians working remotely. For example, with AR glasses, a technician can receive step-by-step guidance right in his line of sight through holographic overlays.
Since September 2022, the Marine Depot Maintenance Command has worked on fielding augmented reality technologies. It was reported that in May 2024, Marine Wing Communications Squadron 28 at MCAS Cherry Point, NC, called upon the command to help take four electronic maintenance shelters from a non-operational state to full mission capability. Using AR to guide the Marines remotely through maintenance and troubleshooting, the MDMC team effectively proved AR-enabled tele-maintenance in real-time.
According to Cpl. Vradley Cerna, a digital wideband systems maintainer with the 35th BSTB, “It was very helpful because we could expedite the troubleshooting with someone who knows the electronic components and layout of shelter models and could walk you through it step by step.”
As AR and VR continue to further develop, the use cases will broaden, providing even more sophisticated tools and capabilities throughout the logistics enterprise. The investment in tele-maintenance using AR and VR not only greatly enhances current operational efficiency for the Marine Corps but also charts the way forward for innovations yet to come in military logistics. This forward-thinking approach ensures that the Marines are equipped with the best tools available and prepared for any challenge that lies ahead.
The U.S. Navy’s strategic use of F-35B Lightning carriers and the Marine Corps’ adoption of AR-enabled tele-maintenance make statements regarding the military remaining committed to its technological edge and operational readiness in the increasingly complex global landscape.