ASDS Advance SEAL Delivery system
MISSION REQUIREMENTS FOR THE ADVANCED SEAL DELIVERY SYSTEM ARE COMPLEX AND HAVE NECESSITATED A SOPHISTICATED SUBMERSIBLE. DIFFICULTIES WITH HULL NO. 1 HAVE RESULTED IN A RESTRUCTURING OF THE PROGRAM.
The importance of the Advanced SEAL Delivery System to Naval Special Warfare Command and U.S. Special Operations Command is dramatically illustrated by the funding that the program has received and the necessity of sticking with the program despite setbacks in the development and performance of hull number 1.
ASDS is a one-atmosphere manned combatant submersible designed to clandestinely transport a squad or platoon-sized special operations team in a dry environment over long distances, launching from a submerged submarine to conduct special operations in maritime environments. Displacing about 60 long tons, the ASDS is 65 feet long with a 6.75 foot beam. The ability to keep a tactical team dry during the long clandestine insertion through the littorals is crucial and allows more time for mission completion and less built-in time to recovery from the fatigue and exhaustion caused simply by being cold. All other current SEAL delivery platforms are wet submersibles requiring SCUBA gear and exposes team members to the sea temperature and pressure at depth throughout the mission. Besides the controlled environment and larger capacity for team members and equipment, the ASDS has inherent sophisticated communications equipment and sensors, state-of-the-art navigation means, and greater range and loiter capability. This translates into a greater range of options, expanded capabilities and increased mission success.
With this increase in capability and protection for SOF teams, the need for a submersible like the ASDS is not in question, however, problems with the current hull have been well-documented over time. These problems, after being addressed in a number of ways, have not allowed the ASDS to fully satisfy the ASDS Reliability Action Panel that it would be able to successfully complete the follow-on test and evaluation. Based on the overall program progress, General Doug Brown commander, USSOCOM, decided that a restructuring of the program was necessary. In making the announcement, Vice Admiral Eric Olson, USSOCOM deputy commander said, “The decision was made to do a significant restructure of the program. It’s really simply a prioritization of investment of the program in improving the reliability of hull No. 1 based on the importance of the mission and the requirement to ensure the people within the ASDS are as safe as they can be.”
The essence of the restructuring is to first maximize the reliability of hull No. 1 and the deferring of programmed investment in hulls No. 2 and No. 3. Although specific funding amounts have not currently been released, plans are to keep sufficient funding in place to make those reliability improvements to hull No. 1, conduct ASDS concept/trade studies, and to operate and maintain it through FY2011. Key to the program restructure and corresponding reliability improvement program will be critical system design reviews that will examine ASDS systems and make recommendations to improve reliability, robustness and performance. Other components of the reliability program will be leveraging improved system designs that were planned for ASDS No. 2, and addressing obsolescence through technical insertion.
Some of the current planned product improvements include upgrading hydraulic system components reducing vehicle signature by incorporating quieter pumps in the hydraulic, ballast, and liquid cooling systems, evaluating how to better “harden” ASDS for host transits, an improved environmental control unit, an updated Integrated Control and Display Unit which is the used to monitor and control ASDS systems and is based on 1990s technology, and an improved periscope system. As the critical systems review progress they will identify other items to improve
The restructuring will also include research and development (R&D) funding to measure reliability improvements and to study options for subsequent hulls.
The two biggest obstacles faced by hull No. 1 have been noise and propulsion problems along with problems in the battery systems on board. The battery systems have been addressed by the replacement of the original silver-zinc batteries with a lithium-ion battery. During at-sea developmental testing, the lithium batteries exceeded all baseline requirements, however, they have not yet gone through full operational evaluation. The propulsion problem was most recently manifested in axial movement in the propeller shaft causing increased vibrations that could be felt by the ASDS operators. Earlier, large flow stresses over the tail section while attached to the host submarine necessitated a change from the original aluminum tail section to one of titanium.
In moving forward, USSOCOM has indicated that it plans to stay with ASDS hull No. 1 builder Northrop Grumman to develop a plan to bring the reliability of hull No. 1 within standards. SOTECH asked Olson whether USSOCOM would use any of the remaining R&D to look at other options other than the current ASDS design, he explained, “The R&D money that we are preserving in the program is in two bins. The one bin is to evaluate progress with respect to reliability of hull No. 1. The other bin is to determine what our options are for subsequent hulls. We are open-minded about where the program might take us. I will state clearly though that the requirement has not changed. USSOCOM is still committed to acquiring [a] small fleet of special-purpose submarines.”
In a statement shortly after the announcement of ASDS restructuring plan, Representative Rob Simmons, (R-Conn.), urged the DoD to involve Electric Boat in any variant of the ASDS program. Simmons warned that, “Without the expertise and credibility of Electric Boat behind the program, the Department of Defense would likely use ASDS problems as a pretext for reprogramming its procurement funds.” Simmons' district includes Groton, Conn., home to Electric Boat. Electric Boat is also a member of the ASDS reliability panel.
USSOCOM is fully committed to the ASDS program. The first priority is fixing hull No. 1 and developing it as a basis for future hulls or acknowledging the need to look at other options in providing a dry submersible system capable of delivering SOF into denied waters. The program will assuredly come under close scrutiny over the next few years, however, accepting the past problems and restructuring the program now will allow the allocation of limited resources to deliver NAVSPECWARCOM their combatant submersible. ♦