The Navy is releasing an environmental study today that it hopes will lead to a blanket authorization for sonar training around Hawai'i and do away with the need for case-by-case applications for permits from a federal regulatory agency that monitors harm to whales.

The ambitious study calls for increased training and testing over 2.3 million square nautical miles around Hawai'i to include anti-submarine warfare sonar, as well as testing on micro-satellite launches, laser-directed energy and hypersonic vehicles capable of speeds in excess of Mach 4 (around 3,000 mph).

The Navy says it does not expect to harm marine mammals in Hawaii waters even with increased use of sonar in large-scale training exercises, including possible operations with three aircraft carriers.