US special forces to trial prototype dry submersibles

US submarine builder General Dynamics Electric Boat has been selected by the US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) to lead the design and build of a prototype 'dry' submersible for evaluation by the naval special forces community.

The USD44.3 million contract award is intended to provide USSOCOM with one of two User Operational Evaluation System (UOES) craft to support its Dry Combat Submersible Technology Development (DCS TD) programme; Submergence Group had previously been brought under contract in June 2012 for the build of another UOES craft design.

General Dynamics Electric Boat was, alongside Lockheed Martin, Oceaneering International, and L-3 Communications, awarded one of four Dry Combat Submersible-Light (DCS-L) Phase I contracts in April 2012. These initial contracts, concluding in July 2012, funded preliminary concept design activities for a 'dry' swimmer delivery craft.

While details of the DCS-L Broad Agency Announcement have remained restricted, USSOCOM has previously released some outline details of its broad DCS-L requirement. This calls for a free swimming vehicle capable of delivering a sustained top speed of at least 5 kt, a maximum operating depth of at least 200 ft, provision for two pilots, and a minimum four SEALs/objective eight SEALs.