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U.S. NavyArctic Roadmap Implementation

Sea, Air, Space Exposition

RADM Jonathan White

Oceanographer and Navigator of the Navy

15 April 2015

Northern Sea Route2025: 6 weeks open41’ controlling draft

Transpolar Route2025: 2 weeks openDeep ocean transit

Northwest Passage2025: intermittently open33’ controlling draft

Sea Routes

Arctic Ice Minimum Projection

Sea route distances: Distance from the Bering Strait to Rotterdam

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U.S. Arctic Region Challenges

• Harsh operating environment Non-ice hardened ships

• Limited comms and satellite sensors• Limited Arctic experience• Incomplete charting• Limited ice- breaking capabilities• Limited SAR assets• Limited infrastructure • High cost of operations

Improving operational capabilities, expertise, and capacityto operate in the region….Just like every other ocean around the world

Identified Capability Gaps• Sense environment parameters• Forecast environmental

parameters• Predict impact of environmental

conditions on naval systems• Communications• Multi-National MDA

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Arctic Roadmap Implementation

• Development of Arctic maritime capability requirements

• Arctic engagement• Updating Fleet guidance for Arctic Operations and

Training

• ICEX accelerated to bi-annual vice tri-annual event

• Science and Technology Plan

• Identify/evaluate U.S. and international infrastructure.

• Hull, propulsion and engineering requirements for Arctic• Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA)- National

Architecture Plan

Maintaining steady strain on the right problems

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Enablers

Improved sea ice and weather forecasts High-resolution Arctic System Models

Coupled ocean/wave/ice/atmosphere Expanded forecasts (7 days, 1-3 months, 1 yr,

5-10 yrs) Detailed ice location, thickness, age,

movement Platform/sensor development (buoys,

hydrographic sensors, UAV/UUVs) Earth System Prediction Capability (ESPC)

Improving forecasts and predictions to support Navy operations worldwide

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Develop a Framework of Observations and Modeling to Support Forecasting and Prediction of Sea Ice

Objective: Improve sea ice forecasts and predictions at a variety of spatial and temporal scales

Navy’s National Role

DOD Lead:

DOD Support: Charting, Models, Maritime Domain Awareness, Observations, etc.

Under Title 10 the Navy is responsible “for safety and effectiveness of all maritime vessels, aircraft, and forces of the armed forces by means of: marine data collection, numerical modeling and forecasting hazardous weather and ocean conditions. As well as the collection and processing of Hydrographic Information.”

Executive Order 13689 21 Jan 2015

Established Arctic ESC

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R U S S I A

CIA Map

USEUCOMUSNORTHCOM

International Collaboration

“Promote Partnerships within the U.S. Gov’t and with International Allies in Support of Safety and Security.”- U.S. Navy Arctic Roadmap

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Discussion