Undersea Mobility
Can you update us on your undersea mobility platforms?
In the near term, we are looking to modernize the aging SEAL Delivery Vehicles [SDVs], procure lower-cost combat submersibles that capitalize on the commercial submersible industry, and make modifications to current dry deck shelters to accommodate the new combat submersibles.
As the SDVs near the end of their service life, we’re facing obsolescent compatibility issues and other limitations. We’re programmed for some technical improvements to increase reliability and operational capability until the current Mk. VIII Mod 1 SDV can be phased-replaced by the Shallow Water Combat Submersible [SWCS] between FY 16-19. The advancements made in the SDV “refresh” effort will be shared with the SWCS builder to reduce risk for that program.
The SWCS is a free-flooding [wet] combat submersible designed to transport SOF elements into littoral waters and harbors. It is planned to be larger than the current SDV, so internal reconfiguration to the dry deck shelter [DDS]-equipped submarines will be required. SWCS will provide theater commanders with the operational capability to conduct SOF undersea operations in the 2015-2032 time frame. The SWCS is designed to overcome the SDV’s personnel and payload limitations; however, it does not address the thermal protection issue. For that, a dry submersible is required. We’re looking at acquiring a Dry Combat Submersible Medium [DCSM].
NSW Intelligence
An East Coast-based U.S. Navy SEAL practices shooting drills at the Naval Special Warfare Eagle Haven Indoor Shooting Range at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story, Va. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class William S. Parker
Can you talk a bit about efforts to develop NSW intelligence capabilities and the impact of unmanned aerial vehicles to NSW operations?
NSW capacity and capabilities in intelligence gathering, data analysis, and force-protection operations continue to increase and mature in part due to the significant investment by the U.S. Navy in Information Dominance Corps [IDC] personnel, other mission specialists, and resources to support Naval Special Warfare.
Navy Criminal Investigative Service [NCIS] has provided counterintelligence [CI] agents to deploy with SEAL teams in support of NSW’s force protection and security needs. Sailors who graduate from the Marine Air-Ground Task Force CI/HUMINT [human intelligence] course and are awarded the NEC [Navy Enlisted Classification] 3913 are also being assigned to NSW forces to conduct military source operations, thereby giving the commander a better understanding of the environment in which his force is living and working. The combination of experienced NCIS CI special agents and uniformed CI/HUMINT sailors is providing a potent capability to enhance protection of our forces – on the ground and in the littorals.
Likewise, NSW forces currently operate small, tactical unmanned aerial systems that provide collection on the specific tactical zone in which the units are operating. These systems help us in developing targets for operations and provide situational awareness of the commander’s zone of responsibility and influence. Because these systems are organic to the SEAL team, the commander can launch them when/where he needs them, garnering maximum benefit from the collection capabilities of these platforms.
In addition, Navy METOC [Meteorology and Oceanography] personnel (aerographer’s mates) deploy with the SEAL teams, providing technical support to operations by operating systems and collecting information that bears on current and future operations of the teams. Communications personnel (information systems technicians and electronics technicians) are also critical to enabling the SEAL teams to communicate using a myriad of terrestrial or satellite voice and data capabilities.
A Naval Special Warfare (NSW) member attached to Special Operations Task Force-Southeast (SOTF-SE) prepares to leave Forward Operating Base Camp Ripley to conduct a clearing operation, Tarin Kowt district, Uruzgan province, Afghanistan, July 7, 2012. NSW members partnered with Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) to conduct the clearing operation in the SOTF-SE area of responsibility.
U.S. Navy Photograph by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class James L. Ginther
The total Navy Information Dominance Corps [IDC] contribution to NSW is approximately 1,180 personnel; this is approximately 14 percent of the NSW force and just under 4 percent of the total Information Dominance Corps structure.
Assigning IDC personnel to NSW [vice providing the capability through individual augmentation] has resulted in a stronger understanding of, and appreciation for, the capabilities of each of the IDC disciplines. As NSW forces have come to this appreciation, the demand for additional capability has increased.
IDC personnel are now included directly in SEAL team operations in Afghanistan, sharing the same risks the operators face, and, occasionally, paying the ultimate sacrifice. Intelligence has enabled NSW operations around the world, and operations have driven the intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities further and faster; the symbiotic relationship has served the Navy and the special operations community very well.