“Navy Cmdr. Keith Oswald of SOCOM ATL says U.S. Navy SEALs will soon have an impressive new “tool in their toolkits” — dry combat submersibles. SEAL Delivery Vehicles have historically subjected America’s special operations forces to hours of cramped and cold travel on their way to an objective.

“These are national command authority missions. Can’t fail. So in those niche missions, it’s really important we have technology that’s cutting edge,” congressman and retired Navy SEAL Commander Ryan Zinke, Montana Republican, told the Hill.

The website toured one of two “demonstrator” vehicles this week at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story in Virginia to get an idea of what SEALs can expect. The DCS is 39 feet long, 7 to 8 feet in diameter, travels at speeds up to five knots for 60 nautical miles, and can fit eight SEALs. “The DCS Program is on track to provide a capability that our warfighters have not had in a long time,” said Navy Capt. Kate Dolloff, who oversees all maritime programs for Special Operations Command Acquisition, Technology and Logistics. “We still have a long way to go, but a stepped approach using technology demonstrators to mitigate risk and a close relationship with the user community has been extremely successful to date and led to contract award,” she added.”

By Douglas Ernst – The Washington Times – Thursday, September 15, 2016