PATUXENT RIVER, Md. –
The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) demonstrated innovative mission planning software for swarms and other configurations of unmanned air, surface and underwater systems at its headquarters in June.
The new Optimized Cross-Domain Swarm Sensing (OCDSS) software program helps the Navy plan missions using groups of unmanned aircraft. By running thousands of computer simulations, the software determines the best combination and arrangement of drones and sensors to achieve mission goals at sea.
“Autonomy is the decisive edge for maritime dominance,” said NAWCAD Commander Rear Adm. Todd Evans. “This technology is critical to enhancing operations across domains and represents a significant step forward for manned-unmanned teaming.”
OCDSS helps the Navy and Marine Corps get the most out of their unmanned systems while saving time and money. Its computer simulations predict how different drones will perform together in various missions, enabling planners to choose the right number and type of vehicles for the job.
“OCDSS quickly runs thousands of simulations to predict how different unmanned systems might perform together,” said NAWCAD Mechanical Engineer Raymond Koehler, OCDSS’ lead software developer. “This software gives warfighters faster and more effective decision making—that’s competitive advantage.”
By providing a virtual testing environment, OCDSS also reduces the cost and time associated with real-world testing in defense acquisition programs, which aligns with industry practices where simulation drives up to 90 percent of the development process. The technology successfully operated at ANTX Coastal Trident in August 2024, focusing on port security and providing data for future development and deployment.
“OCDSS levels up how unmanned systems are used in a wide range of missions, and we’re ready to scale this autonomy to operational teams or test programs across the Navy and Marine Corps,” Koehler said.
Operational users and defense programs interested in learning more about OCDSS should contact NAWCAD tech team lead Derek Alley at derek.m.alley.civ@us.navy.mil for more information.
Koehler earned the Assistant Secretary of the Navy’s 2025 Dr. Delores M. Etter Top Scientists and Engineers of the Year Award in the Emergent Engineer category for his outstanding contributions to swarm autonomy. The team he supports also earned a NAWCAD award for its collaboration on the effort with the Naval Surface Warfare Center Carderock Division, Potomac, Maryland.
NAWCAD’s military, civilian and contract personnel operate test ranges, laboratories and aircraft in support of test, evaluation, research, development and sustainment for all Navy and Marine Corps aviation platforms. Based in Patuxent River, Maryland, NAWCAD also has major sites in St. Inigoes, Maryland; Lakehurst, New Jersey; and Orlando, Florida.
From the Naval Air Surface Warfare Aircraft Division. 