If you remember what it was like to be a preschooler, you'll recall Aesop's Fables, short stories with moral lessons passed down from ancient times. However, mention the word "AESOP" around the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) these days and a tale of Extensible Markup Language (XML) and the electromagnetic spectrum will emerge. And before the day is through you just might find yourself re-examining the tale of "The Tortoise and the Hare." The Afloat Electromagnetic

Spectrum Operations Program, or AESOP, is a surface Navy spectrum management software tool for managing radar and communications frequencies of shipboard equipment. It is a critical task. Poor spectrum management leads to undue interference that can cripple systems meant to bolster warfighting capabilities like tracking enemy aircraft or jamming enemy radar. AESOP covers a wide range of situations, from single ship training to large-scale multiple Strike Group operations.

In Strike Group operations, the tool's three core components (Communications Planning module, Radar Planning module and Participant module) work in concert to ensure effective spectrum usage. The Communications and Radar Planning modules are used to establish frequency plans for the Strike Group, while the Participant module allows other units to provide inputs in the form of frequency and mode settings for radar and weapons systems.