According to information released by the U.S. Department of Defense on August 20, 2024, the Naval Information Warfare Systems Command (NAVWAR) is leading an initiative to improve connectivity for sailors on land and at sea.
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Starlink antenna on the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln. (Image source: Dvids)

This new capability, known as Sailor Edge Afloat and Ashore (SEA2), transforms the way sailors stay connected to the outside world and perform critical tasks aboard warships.

In the past, unreliable internet connections have made it difficult for seafarers deployed for months at a time to maintain contact with friends and family and to carry out their professional duties.

The need for a reliable, high-speed Internet connection is critical for both personal and operational purposes, especially for the safe handling of combat, navigation and communications systems on board ships.

SEA2 uses low-orbit satellite technology to provide high-speed Internet access to ships and on land, a significant improvement over the Department of Defense’s (DOD) previous reliance on geostationary satellites.

Unlike the older satellites, which were stationed about 36,900 kilometers above the Earth and delivered only slow data rates due to the great distance the signals had to travel, the newer satellites are in low orbit between 600 and 1,200 kilometers above the Earth. This proximity, along with a network of about 7,000 satellites, enables a faster and more reliable connection.

The trigger for this technological shift was the COVID-19 pandemic, which highlighted the need for better internet access at a time when port calls were severely restricted and traditional means of communication were cut off.

To effectively implement SEA2, NAVWAR focused on three main objectives: establishing a laser crosslink capability between satellites, creating a downlink for land-based sites, and developing a mobility code to maintain a ship’s connection to satellites as it moves across the ocean.

The Program Executive Office Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Intelligence (PEO C4I), in collaboration with NAVWAR’s PMW 170 Communications and Global Positioning System Navigation program office, has developed the Satellite Terminal (transportable) Non-Geostationary (STtNG). This system enables secure access to low-orbit satellites with an average throughput of 30 to 50 megabits per second, scalable up to one gigabit per second by connecting multiple Starlink antennas.

SEA2 has already demonstrated its transformative potential aboard USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72). SEA2’s increased speed and functionality also pave the way for further advancements such as Flank Speed ​​Edge, a cloud-based system for transmitting large amounts of data to ships.