West 2024: A roundup of news and military tech in San Diego

Colin Demarest
·1 min read
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The USS Chosin slips through the San Diego Bay, near the bridge to Coronado, on Feb. 15, 2024, following a modernization period. (Colin Demarest/C4ISRNET)
The USS Chosin slips through the San Diego Bay, near the bridge to Coronado, on Feb. 15, 2024, following a modernization period. (Colin Demarest/C4ISRNET)
U.S. Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti speaks with an interviewer Feb. 13, 2024, on the sidelines of the West conference in San Diego. (Colin Demarest/C4ISRNET)
U.S. Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti speaks with an interviewer Feb. 13, 2024, on the sidelines of the West conference in San Diego. (Colin Demarest/C4ISRNET)
A model aircraft carrier is displayed at defense contractor HII's booth at the West conference in San Diego. (Colin Demarest/C4ISRNET)
A model aircraft carrier is displayed at defense contractor HII's booth at the West conference in San Diego. (Colin Demarest/C4ISRNET)
U.S. Navy Adm. Samuel Paparo, commander of the Pacific Fleet, on Feb. 14, 2024, said militaries are operating amid an
U.S. Navy Adm. Samuel Paparo, commander of the Pacific Fleet, on Feb. 14, 2024, said militaries are operating amid an
A jet is seen flying near the San Diego Convention Center on Feb. 15, 2024, during the final day of the West naval conference. (Colin Demarest/C4ISRNET)
A jet is seen flying near the San Diego Convention Center on Feb. 15, 2024, during the final day of the West naval conference. (Colin Demarest/C4ISRNET)
Gen. Christopher Mahoney, the U.S. Marine Corps assistant commandant, answers an audience question Feb. 15, 2024, at the West naval conference in San Diego. (Colin Demarest/C4ISRNET)
Gen. Christopher Mahoney, the U.S. Marine Corps assistant commandant, answers an audience question Feb. 15, 2024, at the West naval conference in San Diego. (Colin Demarest/C4ISRNET)
A woman engages with a shooting simulation at the General Dynamics Information Technology booth at the West 2024 conference in San Diego. (Colin Demarest/C4ISRNET)
A woman engages with a shooting simulation at the General Dynamics Information Technology booth at the West 2024 conference in San Diego. (Colin Demarest/C4ISRNET)
U.S. Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro told defense contractors at West 2024 to prioritize weapons deliveries and production investments over greedy stock market maneuvering. (Colin Demarest/C4ISRNET)
U.S. Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro told defense contractors at West 2024 to prioritize weapons deliveries and production investments over greedy stock market maneuvering. (Colin Demarest/C4ISRNET)
A Trackfire Remote Weapon Station made by Saab is seen on the West 2024 show floor Feb. 13. (Colin Demarest/C4ISRNET)
A Trackfire Remote Weapon Station made by Saab is seen on the West 2024 show floor Feb. 13. (Colin Demarest/C4ISRNET)
U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Michael Brookes, the Office of Naval Intelligence boss, told reporters at West 2024 that Houthi rebels posed little threat to undersea cables in the Red Sea region. (Colin Demarest/C4ISRNET)
U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Michael Brookes, the Office of Naval Intelligence boss, told reporters at West 2024 that Houthi rebels posed little threat to undersea cables in the Red Sea region. (Colin Demarest/C4ISRNET)
Two Chinook helicopters fly over the San Diego Bay on Feb. 15, 2024, during the final day of the West naval conference. (Colin Demarest/C4ISRNET)
Two Chinook helicopters fly over the San Diego Bay on Feb. 15, 2024, during the final day of the West naval conference. (Colin Demarest/C4ISRNET)
U.S. Navy Vice Adm. Craig Clapperton, the leader of U.S. Fleet Cyber Command, listens to a question at the West conference in San Diego on Feb. 13, 2024. (Colin Demarest/C4ISRNET)
U.S. Navy Vice Adm. Craig Clapperton, the leader of U.S. Fleet Cyber Command, listens to a question at the West conference in San Diego on Feb. 13, 2024. (Colin Demarest/C4ISRNET)

SAN DIEGO — Some of the world’s largest defense contractors as well as U.S. Navy and Marine Corps leadership converged on the waterfront convention center here for the West conference Feb. 13-15. Reporters with C4ISRNET, Defense News and Navy Times were there as well, chronicling the events and conversation.

From Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro issuing a frank warning to industry to lessons learned from Houthi engagements in the Red Sea, here’s what you may have missed:

  • Project Overmatch networking capabilities have been upgraded and rolled out to an additional number of Navy ships following testing last year with the Carl Vinson carrier strike group. All the details here.

  • Northrop Grumman said it will participate in two events to demonstrate autonomy and electronic warfare payloads the company is developing for unmanned surface vessels under its Project Scion initiative. Click for more info.

  • The Navy’s ongoing battles with Iran-backed Houthi rebels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden have resulted in destroyers shooting down 14 anti-ship ballistic missiles “for the first time in history.” Interested?

  • Six months into its effort to field thousands of attritable, autonomous systems, the Pentagon is planning the second iteration of the Replicator program — and this time, software will be the focus. What that means for the future.

  • The U.S. Marine Corps will put a new type of missile-delivery drone to the test in an operational scenario this month, following a year of developmental work. And then what?

  • The Navy plans to establish a second unmanned surface drone squadron in May, according to the head of U.S. Pacific Fleet. Keep reading.

The next West conference is scheduled for late January 2025.