Larger payload & longer endurance than the current wet combat submersible, says company
Lockheed Martin is on contract with USSOCOM for the production of Dry Combat Submersible (DCS) 1, DCS 2, and DCS 3. “The contract delivery date of DCS 1 is June 28, 2019,” according to Jon Beckerman, DCS Program Manager, Lockheed Martin Navigation, Surveillance & Unmanned Systems.
This craft will put “dry” in this new SEAL delivery craft mini-fleet, with the key feature of the new DCS being the maritime operators will be fully enclosed inside a mini-submarine while in transit, reducing their exposure to cold water and fatigue. The legacy-era SEAL Delivery Vehicle is a semi-enclosed submersible in which the SEALs ride, exposed to the water while breathing from the vehicle’s compressed air supply or using their own SCUBA gear. “The DCS has a larger payload and longer endurance than the current wet combat submersibles,” Mr Beckerman added.
Major industry members and their responsibility on the Lockheed Martin-led DCS team include: General Atomics (LiFT (Lithium Ion Fault Tolerant) battery system provider); Submergence Group, and their wholly owned subsidiary MSubs, LTD (design agent, submersible manufacturer); and Det Norske Veritas Germanischer Lloyd (DNV GL) (commercial classification agent)
The Lockheed Martin confirmed: “There are currently no Foreign Military Sales cases involving the Dry Combat Submersible.”
Marty Kauchak
