By Geoff Fein
The Advanced SEAL Delivery System (ASDS), a small submersible capable of deploying Special Operations Command (SOCOM) from a submarine operated for the first time from one of the Navy’s newest SSGN’s, the USS Michigan (SSGN-727), according to Northrop Grumman [NOC].
SOCOM had been banking on Northrop Grumman’s effort to build a small submersible that could be deployed from an Ohio-class converted submarine to insert and extract special operations forces (SOF). But a series of reliability issues with ASDS-1 led to cancellation of the program in 2005.
As a result, only one ASDS hull exists today and only the correction of reliability problems on that hull remain to be completed (Defense Daily, Oct. 28).
The Navy established an ASDS improvement program with the goal of improving ASDS-1’s performance to the required level. Funds that have already been appropriated for ASDS will be used to conduct the improvement plan and keep ASDS-1 operational (Defense Daily, Oct. 28).
ASDS was hosted on the USS Michigan during the SSGN’s recent Follow-on Test and Evaluation period (FOT&E), which included as its final phase the operational evaluation of SSGN with ASDS, Northrop Grumman said.
During the test, the ASDS vehicle was launched and recovered by the Michigan across the full range of operational conditions.
All test activities associated with the combined operations of ASDS and the SSGN class submarine were successfully completed, the company reported.
The ability to host an ASDS on the SSGN was enabled by Northrop Grumman’s design, manufacture, and delivery of a set of “universal pylons” that are designed for Los Angeles class, Ohio SSGN class and ultimately the Virginia-class submarines.
Previously, hosting the ASDS was limited to two Los Angeles-class submarines, the USS Greeneville (SSN-772) and USS Charlotte (SSN-766)–using transport and latching pylons that were designed specifically for that class of submarine, Northrop Grumman said.
The flexibility of the universal pylons was demonstrated during the operational test and evaluation, the company added. ASDS’ ability to provide clandestine undersea mobility will significantly expand the range of options available in the war on terrorism, according to Northrop Grumman.
“The ASDS success during the test with USS Michigan is just another ‘first’ in a long stream of ‘firsts’ that ASDS has been involved in. This first-of-its-kind system provides an operational capability to our SEAL forces in any environment,” Dennis Gallimore, Northrop Grumman’s ASDS program director. “ASDS is a transformational system that provides our naval forces, and our highly trained and valued SEAL personnel, with the most technologically advanced equipment in order to survive and succeed in critical special combat missions.”
In November 2005, following a series of reliability issues with ASDS, the ASDS Reliability Action Panel (ARAP) recommended that a follow-on test and evaluation (FOT&E) planned for January 2006 and Milestone C planned for April of that year be delayed (Defense Daily, Dec. 1, 2005).
Since the panel’s report was issued in February 2006, there have been no more recommendations from the ARAP.
In December 2005, SOCOM and the Navy canceled further procurement of ASDS hulls, instead opting to work out reliability issues in ASDS-1.
ASDS is the biggest maritime acquisition program in SOCOM’s history.
At the time of the decision to cancel further procurement of ASDS, SOCOM had invested approximately $446 million in research, development, test and evaluation (RDT&E) on ASDS-1 (Defense Daily, Dec. 1, 2005).
In 2005, the president’s FY ’06 budget requested $71.6 million in advance procurement for ASDS-2 and $212.2 million for procurement in FY ’07. ASDS-3 had $70.9 million in advance procurement in FY ’08 and $161.7 million for procurement in FY ’09.
While SOCOM provides the funding for ASDS, the Navy manages the program.