US special forces to trial prototype dry submersibles

By Richard Scott

1/8/2013

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, a minimum four SEALs/objective eight SEALs, air transportable in C-17 and C-5 aircraft, surface transportable in a 40 ft ISO container, operable from a submarine with a lengthened and modified dry deck hangar or suitable surface ships, and classed by ABS as a +A1 Submersible.
Although the DCS-L acquisition programme was unfunded in the Pentagon's Fiscal Year 2013 (FY13) budget, the build and test of two UOES prototypes is being taken forward as part of the DCS TD programme. This is investigating the applicability of relevant low-cost commercial technologies and techniques for use in a future affordable small lock-in/lock-out submersible.
According to USSOCOM, the Phase II DCS-L research and development contract awarded to General Dynamics Electric Boat on 10 December "includes the design, construction, test, and delivery of a complete, commercially classed prototype dry combat submersible system". It added: "The total contract duration is 36 months including options. … development, design, construction, and testing will be performed in the United States and Italy."
IHS Jane's understands that this vehicle is to be designated UOES3. Electric Boat is partnered with GSE Trieste, based in Bergamo, Italy, an established builder of commercial diver lock-out submersibles.
Only limited details have been released of the UOES3 design, which is, according to Electric Boat, derived from an existing Pegaso submersible built by GSE. To be classed by RINA, the craft will have a length of 31 ft, a beam of 6.3 ft, and a displacement of 17.4 tons. Complement is six personnel.
GSE is being subcontracted for most of the engineering and design activity. Electric Boat is taking responsibility for overall programme management, design oversight, and final outfitting. The initial design and build contract will last for 18 months.
Under a separate USD22.7 million contract, awarded by USSOCOM in June 2012, Submergence Group will deliver its prototype S351 commercially classed dry submersible (designated as UOES2). S301, an earlier dry submersible built by Submergence Group, was previously evaluated by USSOCOM as UOES1.
UOES2 and UOES3, and the wider DCL TD effort, are aimed at informing a Dry Combat Submersible-Medium (DCS-M) Milestone B acquisition decision in the FY15 timeframe. DCS-M is characterised as a long-range, dry submersible able to deliver special forces into denied maritime environments.

Why States Still Use Barrel Bombs

Smoke ascends after a Syrian military helicopter allegedly dropped a barrel bomb over the city of Daraya on Jan. 31.(FADI DIRANI/AFP/Getty Images) Summary Barrel bombs are not especially effective weapons. They are often poorly constructed; they fail to detonate more often than other devices constructed for a similar purpose; and their lack of precision means they can have a disproportionate effect on civilian populations. However, combatants continue to use barrel bombs in conflicts, including in recent and ongoing conflicts in Africa and the Middle East, and they are ideally suited to the requirements of resource-poor states. Analysis Barrel bombs are improvised devices that contain explosive filling and shrapnel packed into a container, often in a cylindrical shape such as a barrel. The devices continue to be dropped on towns all over Syria . Indeed, there have been several documented cases of their use in Iraq over the past months, and residents of the city of Mosul, which was re

Russia Looks East for New Oil Markets

Click to Enlarge In the final years of the Soviet Union, Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev began orienting his foreign policy toward Asia in response to a rising Japan. Putin has also piloted a much-touted pivot to Asia, coinciding with renewed U.S. interest in the area. A good expression of intent was Russia's hosting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in 2012 in Vladivostok, near Russia's borders with China and North Korea. Although its efforts in Asia have been limited by more direct interests in Russia's periphery and in Europe, Moscow recently has been able to look more to the east. Part of this renewed interest involves finding new export markets for Russian hydrocarbons. Russia's economy relies on energy exports, particularly crude oil and natural gas exported via pipeline to the West. However, Western Europe is diversifying its energy sources as new supplies come online out of a desire to reduce its dependence on Russian energy supplies . This has

LONDON POLICE INDIRECTLY ENCOURAGE CRIMINALS TO ATTACK RUSSIAN DIPLOMATIC PROPERTY

ILLUSTRATIVE IMAGE A few days ago an unknown perpetrator trespassed on the territory of the Russian Trade Delegation in London, causing damage to the property and the vehicles belonging to the trade delegation , Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said during the September 12 press briefing. The diplomat revealed the response by the London police was discouraging. Police told that the case does not have any prospects and is likely to be closed. This was made despite the fact that the British law enforcement was provided with video surveillance tapes and detailed information shedding light on the incident. By this byehavior, British law inforcements indirectly encourage criminals to continue attacks on Russian diplomatic property in the UK. Zakharova’s statement on “Trespassing on the Russian Trade Mission premises in London” ( source ): During our briefings, we have repeatedly discussed compliance with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, specif

ISDEI Instituto de Seguridad, Defensa y Estudios Internacionales

Search This Blog