Experimental Forward Operating Base

ONR Program Code 30 November 2010

The remote locations of USMC forward operating bases (FOBs) create significant challenges for the logistics support of combat operations. These FOBs are currently heavily dependent on long-distance deliveries of significant quantities of bulk fuel and water. Convoy routes through unsecured areas are frequently hazardous and transport is always expensive. The delivered cost of fuel and water can easily total between ten to a hundred times its original purchase price.

What is it?

At a Glance
The Experimental Forward

The Marine Corps is in the process of initiating dramatic steps toward rapidly improving the energy efficiency of forward operating bases. In March 2010, the USMC established a temporary ExFOB at the Marine Corps Base Quantico to provide industry with the opportunity to demonstrate the capabilities of existing products to reduce fuel and water transport requirements. This initial product demonstration venue addressed technologies, including small unit water purification, shelter insulation, photovoltaic energy harvesting and energy efficient lighting. A second demonstration venue scheduled for August 2010 at the Marine Corps Base 29 Palms focused on three categories How does it work? of interest: 1) energy-efficient heating and cooling 2) energy efficient utilization of cur The first round of demonstrations rently fielded electric power generators, and 3) energy efficient approaches for coolin March 2010 consisted of products ing bulk water purified on-site prior to human consumption. For the second series of ready for near-term fielding. The demonstrations the range of technical maturity is expanded to also address potential second round of demonstrations scheduled for August 2010 will include solutions that may require additional technology development prior to any subsequent operational experimentation. technologies that may need further
development prior to operational evaluation.

Operating Base (ExFOB) is a collaborative endeavor between the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) Expeditionary Energy Office, Marine Corps Systems Command, Marine Corps Combat Development Command, Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory and the Office of Naval Research. ExFOB consists of a series of product and technology demonstrations conducted in a representative operational environment, intended to reduce the requirement to transport fuel and water over long distances in support of USMC operations.

What will it accomplish?

ExFOB has identified product

solutions for small scale water purification, photovoltaic energy harvesting and energy efficient lighting, which will address technology solutions toward efficient utilization of field generators, energy efficient heating and cooling of shelters and approaches for efficient cooling of locally-purified bulk water.

Research Challenges and Opportunities: Efficient utilization of field generators Energy-efficient heating, cooling and insulation of mobile shelters Energy efficient small unit water purification Packaging and cooling of locally purified water Renewable energy harvesting

Point of Contact:

Clifford Anderson (703) 696-4485 cliff.anderson@navy.mil

www.onr.navy.mil