The US State Department has approved the sale of three SEAL Delivery Vehicles to the UK.

The three MK 11 Shallow Water Combat Submersibles (SWCS) are to be purchased for an estimated cost of $90 million.

The system is a manned submersible, a type of swimmer delivery vehicle, and is currently used by the US to deliver United States Navy SEALs and their equipment for special operations missions. It is also operated by the Special Boat Service, which operates 3 SDV’s which the new systems are replacing. They’re used primarily for covert or clandestine missions to denied access areas (either held by hostile forces or where military activity would draw notice and objection).

It is generally deployed from the dry deck shelter on a specially-modified submarine, although it can also be launched from surface ships. The system fits inside the CHALFONT dry deck shelter on the Astute class submarines (pictured above), used to deploy special forces.

US Navy SEALs next generation SDV Mk.XI (SWCS)
Image of how the system will look, via HISutton.

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale on September the 19th, 2018. This is displayed below:

“The Government of the United Kingdom (UK) has requested to buy three (3) SEAL Delivery Vehicles (SDV) MK 11 Shallow Water Combat Submersibles (SWCS).  Also included are spares; handling equipment; test equipment; operator manuals and technical documentation; U.S. Government and contractor engineering, training, technical, and logistical support services; and other related elements of logistics and program support.  The total estimated program cost is $90 million.

This proposed sale will support U.S. foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a NATO ally which has been, and continues to be, an important partner on critical foreign policy and defense issues.

The proposed sale of the SDV MK 11 SWCS will continue UK’s maritime partnership, interoperability, and regional security capability.  The UK has a proven track record of successfully deploying predecessor system.  The UK will have no difficulty absorbing this system into its armed forces.”

Image result for astute special forces
A US Navy SEAL pilots an earlier model MK8 Mod 1 minisub out of a dry dock shelter fitted atop a US Navy submarine.

The notice also adds that the prime contractor will be Teledyne Brown Engineering Inc in Alabama.

The Shallow Water Combat Submersible (SWCS) is a programme to replace the ageing SDV M.VIII Mod-1 SEAL Delivery Vehicle in use by both the US and UK.

 

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George has a degree in Cyber Security from Glasgow Caledonian University and has a keen interest in naval and cyber security matters and has appeared on national radio and television to discuss current events. George is on Twitter at @geoallison
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Daniele Mandelli
Daniele Mandelli
6 years ago

The documentation for this is over on Gabriel’s blog.

A rare look at what some of the supposed 2 billion uplift in spending on UKSF, highlighted in the 2015 SDSR, is going on.

Pictures exist of these SDV being used by the SBS down at Gibraltar, including air delivery by 7 Squadron Chinooks.

Maybe they can lay Helions cables while they’re at it.

Lusty
6 years ago

I think the cable laying is a job for the venerable Gosport ferry.

Daniele Mandelli
Daniele Mandelli
6 years ago
Reply to  Lusty

Ahhh! At last a proper role! With Mr Reeves at the helm no doubt. ?

David Taylor
David Taylor
6 years ago
Reply to  Lusty

I remember the days when the navy was that big for some the Gosport Ferry was the only sea time they accrued.

farouk
farouk
6 years ago
farouk
farouk
6 years ago
Reply to  farouk

I refer of course to the Patel letter and not the spam one.

Daniele Mandelli
Daniele Mandelli
6 years ago
Reply to  farouk

Yes I was reading both!!!

Daniele Mandelli
Daniele Mandelli
6 years ago
Reply to  farouk

I don’t know what conclusion to draw from that rather long winded piece other than the Military Industrial Complex have military and governments by the balls.

Joe16
Joe16
6 years ago
Reply to  farouk

Mind you, sounds like that Dr Ahmed bloke might be able to fix defence procurement too…

Jack
Jack
6 years ago

The Astute class Chalfont shelters were built with the replacement SF submersibles in mind. The USN submarines had to extend their shelters to accommodate the new versions of these underwater vehicles.

Daniele Mandelli
Daniele Mandelli
6 years ago
Reply to  Jack

Some grown up thinking at last.

We’d lost the capability when Spartan went I believe.

Bohdi Bray
Bohdi Bray
3 years ago
Reply to  Jack

Not for the MK V111 MOD-1 What happened is that the dry deck shelter was so old that it continuously flooded and t6he only thing holding it together was the rust!

J
J
6 years ago

Not mentioned is FIFTY phalanx upgrade kits, didn’t realise there was that many in service

Daniele Mandelli
Daniele Mandelli
6 years ago
Reply to  J

41 apparently.

J
J
6 years ago

Fms details 50, but still, 41? If that many are available why are they not permanent fits, that would still leave some spare after all RN /RFA major vessels had them fitted but do not

Daniele Mandelli
Daniele Mandelli
6 years ago
Reply to  J

I don’t know.

The 41 number is quoted by Gabriele.

David
David
6 years ago
Reply to  J

Is this a new upgrade beyond 1B? Details? Very interested. Thanks.

Mr Bell
Mr Bell
6 years ago

In the good old days we had fleet nuclear powered attack submarines SSNs for surface and subsurface warfare and the SSK fleet of diesel electrics for training crew on periscope course, NATO exercises as the threat vessels and for special forces insertion and operations.
These new subs are a poor replacement for the SSK fleet

David Taylor
David Taylor
6 years ago
Reply to  Mr Bell

https://i1.wp.com/royalnavymemories.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/HMS-Dolphin1.jpg

Well yes we need 12 SSN’s and a case could be made for 8 SSK’s and further 4 smaller SSk’s for Perisher / Thursday War……… but we are where we are. Sadly.

Worried
Worried
6 years ago

Hang on 7 Astutes, at best 3 on patrol and we need 3 of these?, ridiculous.
Surely we can do a share with the Seals and buy one and have an asset share. Crazy what are they Thinking? one on patrol, one on ops, one on refit. These are not Nukes, Just pressure vessels with a battery propulsion system they are not rocket science..more waste.

Daniele Mandelli
Daniele Mandelli
6 years ago
Reply to  Worried

1 for ops.
1 spare in case the deployed one goes wrong.
1 for training at the Chalfont training facility at Faslane or in reserve at Poole.

Seems correct number to me.

Worried
Worried
6 years ago

Is the SBS still large enough to require 3? The training sub can still do real ops. Not as if the Astutes would deploy 100% of time with these shackled on and SBS onboard, Just in case. Have to move on from buy 3 deploy 1. An Astute with the CSG, An Astute on anti sub patrols and another babysitting the deterrent. Leaves no sub for this. 2 max required. Fat chance there would be enough Astute to cater for this excellent kit. More chance the far more complex Astute goes wrong. Save some money buy 2 and give the… Read more »

Daniele Mandelli
Daniele Mandelli
6 years ago
Reply to  Worried

All good points, especially with the lack of SSNs. These should really be with some SSK saving our precious Astutes shouldn’t they. Can an Astute carry two Chalfont chambers if necessary? Incase more than one SDV was required for the mission? I’ve no idea? The only other suggestion I have is that apart from use by the SBS in MCT or raids one of these SDV may be for use by the Secret Intelligence Service. They have small, highly selective parts of the military in support, including a small section of the SBS who would no doubt operate the SDV… Read more »

Simon
Simon
6 years ago
Reply to  Worried

UK doctrine has not deployed an SSN with a CV for nigh on 50 years, they will not do so now for the QE class. RN does not subscribe to US CV BG doctrine. They do not have enough Boats for it.
UK SN does not babysit the SSBN force. When a ‘Bomber’ goes to sea only a handful of people know where it is.
UK SSNs are used primarily for ASW, with a secondary ASuW and land strike role (the latter of which has been most-used in recent years through force of circumstances).

Martin
Martin
6 years ago

The issue with SSK’s is what would we really use then for? The RN wanted to go all SSN as soon as it had SSN’s and only accepted Upholder Class SSK as it felt it could not produce enough SSN’s to counter the soviet threat. SSN had some merit in helping us hold the GIUK line. However what would we really use them for today? SSN’s are the ultimate naval weapon and the single greatest non nuclear strategic weapon. The UK should invest and bring Astute production up to one per year and plan to copy the USA by continuing… Read more »

James
James
6 years ago
Reply to  Martin

We don’t have the indigenous infrastructure to build the Dreadnought-class and Astute-class at the same time without massively delaying the completion of the SSBN project.

Martin
Martin
6 years ago

SSK’s are great for Defence of a coast line or choke point but it’s a Mission we have never performed even during the Second World War, we are always on the offensive and SSK’s have a limited use in offensive blue water operations.

In addition all the roles an SSK can perform will soon be better performed by large UUV’s. We could buy and operate 10 of these for every SSK.

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[…] SDVI M.VIII Mod-1 en uso tanto en los Estados Unidos como en el Reino Unido. (Jesús.R.G.)Fuente: https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/Puedes seguir las noticias a traves de mis cuentas oficiales de Twitter y […]