Sea-Air-Space attendees step out of the naval conference in National Harbor, Maryland, to observe the solar eclipse April 8, 2024. (Colin Demarest/C4ISRNET)
A model of a vessel, draped in blue-and-grey camouflage, is seen suspended at the Fincantieri booth at Sea-Air-Space on April 10, 2024. (Colin Demarest/C4ISRNET)
U.S. Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro waves at the lunchtime crowd gathered for his 2024 Sea-Air-Space speech in Maryland. (Colin Demarest/C4ISRNET)
Shield AI's V-Bat drone stands upright at the company's 2024 Sea-Air-Space booth. A screen nearby advertises its swarming capability. (Colin Demarest/C4ISRNET)
Rear Adm. Doug Small, the U.S. Navy’s Project Overmatch boss, pauses before answering a question about unmanned technologies at the 2024 Sea-Air-Space conference in National Harbor, Maryland. (Colin Demarest/C4ISRNET)
A model of Northrop Grumman's Ground/Air Task-Oriented Radar stands at the company's booth at the 2024 Sea-Air-Space defense conference. The G/ATOR setup is used by Marines. (Colin Demarest/C4ISRNET)
Rear Adm. Ron Piret, the Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command boss, speaks at the Information Warfare Pavilion at the Sea-Air-Space defense conference in April 2024. (Colin Demarest/C4ISRNET)
A man points toward a Switchblade 300 Block 20 loitering munition, made by AeroVironment. The U.S. has sent Switchblade drones to Ukraine. (Colin Demarest/C4ISRNET)
Lance Cpl. Chesty XVI, the Marine Corps’ official mascot, makes an appearance April 9, 2024, at the Sea-Air-Space conference in Maryland. (Colin Demarest/C4ISRNET)
A Lego model of the USS John F. Kennedy is displayed at the 2024 Sea-Air-Space defense conference. It was a crowd favorite. (Colin Demarest/C4ISRNET)
U.S. Rep. Rob Wittman, a Virginia Republican, listens to Rep. Ronny Jackson, a Texas Republican and fellow member of the House Armed Services Committee, during a 2024 Sea-Air-Space discussion. (Colin Demarest/C4ISRNET)
Models of Saildrone unmanned surface vessels are seen at the company's booth April 8, 2024. Saildrone is collaborating with Thales Australia on anti-submarine warfare technologies. (Colin Demarest/C4ISRNET)
Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti scans the Sea-Air-Space crowd April 8, 2024. Franchetti succeeded Adm. Michael Gilday. (Colin Demarest/C4ISRNET)
Parts made by additive manufacturing are displayed at a U.S. Navy booth at the Sea-Air-Space conference in Maryland on April 9, 2024. (Colin Demarest/C4ISRNET)
Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. Christopher Mahoney takes his seat April 8, 2024, at the Sea-Air-Space conference in Maryland. (Colin Demarest/C4ISRNET)
NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. — This week, U.S. Navy leadership and some of the world’s largest defense contractors flocked to the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center south of the nation’s capital for the 2024 Sea-Air-Space defense conference.
Hosted by the Navy League, it’s the service’s largest annual trade show. Reporters with C4ISRNET, Defense News, and Military Times were on the ground, reporting on the latest remarks and industry insights.
From an eclipse that yanked attendees to the waterfront to a surprise appearance by Lance Cpl. Chesty XVI, here’s what you may have missed:
As the Navy, Coast Guard and Maritime Administration press shipbuilders to increase production, the services are also considering other ideas to get ships in the water faster. What that means for the future.
Creating a new robotics warfare specialist rating signified a critical step in achieving a “truly hybrid” fleet, according to the Navy’s top civilian. Learn more.
Northrop Grumman said it finished building its prototype of the Manta Ray underwater drone, devised for assignments that demand long hours and extended ranges while minimizing human involvement. Interested?
The Marine Corps plans to deploy its powerful new heavy-lift helicopter for the first time in 2026 — the year after it previously had anticipated. All the details here.
The Navy recently wrapped a review of its shipbuilding programs. It found several shortfalls, including schedule slips attributed to a lack of workers and a brittle supply chain. For both issues, 3D printing could be the answer. How so?
Shield AI in the next year plans to have its Hivemind digital pilot working aboard three additional types of aircraft, bringing the total to nine. Click me!
A space-focused program spreading hundreds of small satellites in low orbit aims to bring clearer communications and faster data transfer to military units in the field. Why you should care.
The next Sea-Air-Space conference is scheduled for April 2025.
Colin Demarest was a reporter at C4ISRNET, where he covered military networks, cyber and IT. Colin had previously covered the Department of Energy and its National Nuclear Security Administration — namely Cold War cleanup and nuclear weapons development — for a daily newspaper in South Carolina. Colin is also an award-winning photographer.
