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Farewell, FLIP! Renowned Navy-Owned Research Platform Retired after 60 Years of Service

A dynamic era in naval oceanography recently ended as the iconic Floating Instrument Platform — popularly known as FLIP — was officially retired from service. Built in 1962 with funding from the Office of Naval Research (ONR), FLIP helped generations of scientists and oceanographers better understand the mysteries of the sea, including internal waves, air-sea interaction and long-range sound propagation. Sadly, age and exorbitant life-extension costs resulted in the platform being disestablished. On Aug. 3, a solemn gathering of well-wishers watched as FLIP was towed, at sunset, to a dismantling and recycling facility. Last month, a formal good-bye ceremony was hosted by the Marine Physical Laboratory at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD). Though retired, FLIP will live on at Scripps. One of its booms (crane-like arms for suspending instruments) will be installed on the Scripps research pier in La Jolla and used to deploy instruments. Also, artifacts from the platform will be displayed in a permanent exhibit at Scripps’ Birch Aquarium.

August 16, 2023

Semper Floats! Marines Use Sensor Buoys to Better Understand Ocean Battlespace

During the 2020 Trident Warrior exercise, Office of Naval Research-funded scientists dropped sensor buoys to study underwater conditions.

December 22, 2020

Call for Fire: ONR Tests Virtual Training Systems for JTACs, Fire Support Marines

The Office of Naval Research demonstrated two systems designed to make it easier for Joint Terminal Attack Controllers (JTACs) and Fire Support Marines to train.

April 08, 2021

Basic Research for Electro-Optic/Infrared (EO/IR) Sensors and Sensor Processing

BAA Call N00014-24-S-BC01 Special Programs Announcement for Office of Naval Research (ONR) Research Opportunity: Basic Research for Electro-Optic/Infrared (EO/IR) Sensors and Sensor Processing

October 02, 2023