Shallow Water Combat Submersible
The Shallow Water Combat Submersible (SWCS) is a crewed submersible and a type of swimmer delivery vehicle that is planned to be used to deliver United States Navy SEALs and their equipment for special operations missions. It will replace the current Mark 8 SEAL Delivery Vehicle. The Navy planned to introduce the SWCS in 2018, although "slippage in the development" has delayed its introduction until 2019. In 2020, the U.S. Navy stated that it was undergoing sea trials and testing. As of October 2018, two subs have been delivered to the Navy while another two were in production. The SWCS will serve alongside the Dry Combat Submersible (DCS), a midget submarine with a dry interior being developed by Lockheed Martin as a replacement for the cancelled Advanced SEAL Delivery System (ASDS).: 7
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Builders | Teledyne Brown Engineering |
| Operators | United States Navy Royal Navy (planned) |
| Preceded by | SEAL Delivery Vehicle |
| Cost | $383 million (program cost) |
| On order | 7 USN, 3 RN |
| Building | 2 |
| Completed | 2 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Submersible, diver propulsion vehicle |
| Displacement | 4.5 tonnes (5.0 short tons) |
| Length | 6.8 meters (22 ft) |
| Beam | 1.5 meters (4.9 ft) |
| Draft | 1.5 meters (4.9 ft) |
| Propulsion | Lithium-ion batteries powering electric motors |
| Speed | 6 kn (11 km/h) |
| Endurance | 12 hours |
| Test depth | >190 feet (58 m) |
| Complement | 6 (2 crew, 4 passengers) |
| Sensors and processing systems | Inertial navigation system, high-frequency sonar for obstacle/mine avoidance and navigation, GPS |
| Armament | SEAL team personal weapons, limpet mines |