U.S. Navy Demonstrates Game-Changing Underway Reload Technology That Could Redefine Naval Warfare

The U.S. Navy has achieved a significant breakthrough in maritime combat readiness by successfully demonstrating the Transferrable Reload At-sea Method (TRAM) on a warship in open waters for the first time. This innovative technology allows warships to rearm their missile systems while at sea, drastically reducing downtime and enhancing operational effectiveness.

The historic demonstration took place on October 11th, off the coast of San Diego, where sailors aboard the Ticonderoga-class cruiser USS Chosin (CG 65) used the hydraulically-powered TRAM device to load an empty missile canister into the ship’s MK 41 vertical launching system (VLS).

The event marks the first time TRAM has been conducted at sea, marking a crucial step towards achieving a key strategic objective set by Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro to rearm warships while at sea.

“Today, we proved just how game-changing TRAM truly is—and what a powerful deterrent it will be to our competitors,” said Del Toro, who witnessed the demonstration firsthand. “This demonstration marks a key milestone on the path to perfecting this capability and fielding it for sustained operations at sea.”

The breakthrough follows a successful land-based trial conducted in July at the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Port Hueneme Division (NSWC PHD) in California, where engineers developed the TRAM prototype. TRAM is designed to integrate into the underway replenishment (UNREP) process, allowing warships to reload while remaining in the combat zone.

During the at-sea demonstration, the USS Chosin connected to the USNS Washington Chambers (T-AKE 11), a Military Sealift Command dry cargo and ammunition ship. The supply vessel transferred the missile canister across cables to the cruiser, where the TRAM device then maneuvered the canister along a rail system, tilted it into a vertical position, and precisely lowered it into a VLS cell using its advanced cable and pulley mechanism.

The implications of this advancement are significant. Tim Barnard, director of the NAVSEA technology office, stressed the strategic advantage this capability provides. “Deploying TRAM into the Military Sealift Command logistics fleet would enable combatants to remain in theater while reloading their VLS missile launchers instead of having to travel long distances to a port, greatly expanding the volume and tempo of long-range fires—and the U.S. Navy’s advantage over adversaries,” he said.

The MK 41 VLS is a cornerstone of the U.S. Navy’s missile-launching capability, equipping destroyers, cruisers, and the future Constellation-class frigates with rapid-fire missile deployment.

The successful demonstration comes as U.S. Navy warships have spent much of the past year conducting hundreds of engagements against drones and missiles launched by the Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen. 

Looking ahead, Secretary Del Toro stated that the Navy aims to begin fielding TRAM within two to three years.