I recently had the privilege of hosting industry leaders from Northrop Grumman, L3Harris Technologies, Boeing, Overwatch Imaging, and RTX for a deep dive into the operational life of an Airborne Sensor Operator aboard the P-8A Poseidon during CAG/NARG 2026. Events like these are critical for bridging the gap between those who develop our hardware and the operators who employ it in the field. Aligning the maritime community’s operational requirements with the capabilities designed by our industry partners is essential to maintaining our competitive edge.
One of the highlights of the day was a conversation with Lynn Boldt , Director of Multi-Domain Surveillance Radars at RTX. While discussing the P-8A’s radar capabilities, he asked a fundamental question:
"If there was anything on this radar you could change or improve, what would it be?"
It was a refreshing moment of directness. It prompted me to reflect on thousands of hours spent on-station, where marginal gains in efficiency or small adjustments to the interface can make a significant difference during a mission. Being able to translate real-world "on-station" experience into actionable feedback for those who hold the pen on design is an opportunity I don't take lightly.
I truly enjoyed sharing the nuances of ISR operations with the people capable of making a tangible impact on our future capabilities. When we foster open communication between the operator and the developer, the entire maritime community moves forward.
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