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Research and Development Center

Research and Development Center, 1 Chelsea St., New London, Connecticut
Research and Development Center
The goals of the Research and Development Center, at 1 Chelsea St. in New London, Connecticut, are to pursue and apply new scientific technologies for the maritime environment and provide incremental improvements that strategically transform the way the Coast Guard does business.
Coast Guard UAS concept
Examining Long-range Unmanned Aircraft Systems
The RDC has kicked off market research to study the use of land-based long-range and ultra-long endurance unmanned aircraft systems to conduct intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions across contraband transit zones such as the Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico and eastern Pacific Ocean.
LR/U-LE Request for Information
Coast Guard CubeSat project
Cube Satellites to Extend EPIRB Detection
The U.S. Coast Guard and DHS Science and Technology will be using three CubeSats in the Mobile CubeSat Command and Control network as part of a collaborative research project called Polar Scout. These polar orbiting CubeSats will be deployed to detect Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons from space.
The Robotic Aircraft for Maritime Public Safety (RAMPS) project
Expanding Capabilities with Unmanned Systems
The Robotic Aircraft for Maritime Public Safety project is helping the Coast Guard better understand the risks, benefits and limitations of operating existing commercial-off-the-shelf small unmanned aircraft system technology in a maritime environment for cutter forces in addition to the national security cutter.
Arctic Technology Demonstrations and Assessments
Arctic Technology Evaluations
With increased maritime activity in the Arctic Region, the RDC coordinates technology demonstrations and assessments to enhance a range of Coast Guard mission performance factors including communications, navigational aids, weather observation, emergency response (oil spill or search and rescue), and sea ice capping.
Joint Maritime Test Facility In-Situ Burning (ISB) tests
In-Situ Oil Spill Response Technologies
Working with partners in industry as well as universities, the RDC uses the Joint Maritime Test Facility’s burn tank in Mobile, Alabama, for In-Situ Burning tests which are focused on advancing the research of oil spill response technologies.
Temporary Denial of Service 911 hoax calls.
Locating Nefarious Hoax Distress Calls
Hoax distress calls plague first responder agencies, including on the Channel 16 maritime distress frequency, which mariners use for radio communications. The RDC overall project employs enhanced direction-finding equipment and social media monitoring and awareness efforts to identify potential hoax callers.
Research and Development Center, 1 Chelsea St., New London, Connecticut
Coast Guard UAS concept
Coast Guard CubeSat project
The Robotic Aircraft for Maritime Public Safety (RAMPS) project
Arctic Technology Demonstrations and Assessments
Joint Maritime Test Facility In-Situ Burning (ISB) tests
Temporary Denial of Service 911 hoax calls.

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

The Research and Development Center (RDC), located in New London, Conn. is the Coast Guard's sole facility performing research, development, and test and evaluation in support of the service's major missions.

The RDC is responsible for evaluating the feasibility and affordability of mission execution solutions and providing operational and risk-management analysis at all stages of the acquisition process.

When appropriate, the RDC collaborates with relevant professionals in the public and private sectors in order to leverage others’ expertise.

Planning a Visit

The RDC is located along the shore of the Thames River adjacent to Coast Guard Station New London in the historic Fort Trumbull area of New London. The center is conveniently located to the Coast Guard Academy, the USCG Barque Eagle, and the Naval Submarine Base at:

1 Chelsea Street
New London, CT 06320

The RDC is a controlled-access facility. Prior arrangements must be made with an RDC point of contact before access may be granted.

    • Visitors are required to check in at the first-floor front desk, located on the river side of the building.
    • Visitors will not be admitted without proper photo identification.
    • Visits by foreign nationals require special processing. For more information, you may contact the RDC Administrator’s Office at 860-271-2600.    
    • To carry, receive or discuss classified information during a visit to the RDC, contact the RDC Security Officer at 860-271-2755 or 860-271-2892.