Atlantic Ocean. (August 19, 2024): In ancient times mariners used the stars, dead reckoning, or just plain luck to navigate the seas. Today, America’s warships are guided by a new state-of-the art Voyage Management System developed by the Northrop Grumman Corporation. In this photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Darren Cordoviz, Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Brandon Davis tracks the course of the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman during integrated naval warfighting training.

Officially called an Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS), this new software will become the core navigation tool on the bridge of every U.S. Navy ship and submarine in the next three years. The new ECDIS can process and project multiple chart formats including nautical charts developed by the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency.

The system tracks targets from the vessel’s navigation radar to create route plans and to monitor progress along the route. Safety checking functions analyze chart data and radar targets to warn of hazards to safe navigation while underway. The platform is modified with a human-machine interface for ease of operator access, improved situational awareness, and increased navigation safety. The system records information such as speeds, heading, fuel consumption, and engine performance.

No longer guided by the stars, today’s Navy is installing the most sophisticated navigation tool ever conceived.