DARPA has launched the Tactically Exploited Reconnaissance Node (TERN) program. Seeking to combine the strengths of both land- and sea-based approaches to supporting airborne assets, TERN envisions using smaller ships as mobile launch and recovery sites for medium-altitude long-endurance fixed-wing unmanned aircraft. Named after the family of seabirds known for flight endurance – many species migrate thousands of miles each year – TERN aims to make it much easier, quicker and less expensive for DoD to deploy airborne intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and strike capabilities almost anywhere in the world. See <a rel="nofollow" class="external free" href="https://www.darpa.mil/NewsEvents/Releases/2013/03/01.aspx">http://www.darpa.mil/NewsEvents/Releases/2013/03/01.aspx</a> for more details.
DARPA
Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)