Advanced SEAL Delivery System (ASDS) was a midget submarine operated by the United States Navy and United States Special Operations Command designed to provide stealthy submerged transportation for special operations forces (primarily United States Navy SEALs) from the decks of nuclear submarines for primary use as an insertion platform for covert and clandestine operations.
GlobalSecurity adds that the program was initially projected to cost $527 million (including delivery of all six boats), but it is now predicted to rise to more than $2 billion – significantly more than the $1.4 billion SSGN Tactical Trident conversion program to which it is related. In April 2006, the program for new submarines was canceled and Northrop Grumman notified of termination. Competitive conceptual designs were developed in the late 1980s, the The Navy stated a requirement for six boats, but that was established before it decided to convert four Detailed design of the first ASDS was started in 1994, and hull construction began in 1996, at a cost of $160 million, to a low bid for the delivery of $69 million for the first ASDS (to include non-recurring design costs, fabrication, and testing), and subsequent copies for $25 million each.
It was delivered for testing and evaluation in 2000 and cost US$300 million (vendor and program office costs inclusive) to develop.
--- The Advanced SEAL Delivery System (ASDS) program, with significant support from Northrop Grumman Corporation, achieved a significant milestone in late March 2008, operating for the first time from one of the U.S. Navy's newest transformational platforms, the Ohio-class cruise missile submarine USS Michigan (SSGN 727). Technical assistance was provided by the In April 2006, the program for new submarines was canceled and Northrop Grumman notified of termination. It provides the SOCOM with a true “mini-sub,” capa-ble of significantly extending its combat radius. ASDS was conceived to address the need for stealthy long-range insertion of Special Operations Forces on covert or clandestine missions. It was designed to replace the The first study to define the ASDS was performed in 1983. The Advanced SEAL Delivery System (ASDS) is a mini-submarine that is one of the U.S. Special Operations Command's largest investments. insertion platform. The Richmond Times-Dispatch notes that the ASDS mini-subs were originally supposed to cost $80 million each, but numerous problems with the first boat have ballooned its cost to $446 million so far (vendor and government facility costs inclusive). The current submarine was still in development and in use until it was damaged in a "serious fire" in November 2008. Instead of completing integration and entering service in 2000, testing continued and the first boat was officially delivered in July 2003. What we do. US Navy 030701-N-0000X-001 The Los Angeles-class submarine USS Greenville (SSN 772) recently completed sea testing for the Advanced SEAL Delivery System (ASDS) off the coast of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.jpg 2,100 × 1,397; 292 KB.
The current submarine was still in development and use until damaged in a "serious fire" in November 2008.
Most of the sub's capabilities are classified, however … The Advanced SEAL Delivery System does just that. ASDS on USS Georgia (SSGN 729).jpg 762 × 524; 95 KB.
ASDS was conceived to address the need for stealthy long-range insertion of special operations forces on covert or clandestine missions. The Advanced SEAL Delivery System was designed to carry 16 SEALs upwards of 60 miles into the operations area and back. After the Advanced SEAL Delivery System's cancellation, the Navy pursued the These abandoned programs, and the currently operational Smaller swimmer propulsion devices such as the STD (Swimmer Transport Device) may be carried internally (basically smaller scooters), and small Former Navy SEAL mini-sub deployed from submarines A manned submersible and a type of swimmer delivery vehicleKakesako, Gregg L, "Navy Still Investigating Fire Aboard Special Warfare Minisub", The program is approaching the end of a difficult development and must undergo key testing before decisions are made to proceed beyond the first boat. It will generally be transported to its designated operational area by a The Advanced SEAL Delivery System (ASDS) was a midget submarine operated by the United States Navy and United States Special Operations Command.It provided stealthy submerged transportation for United States Navy SEALs from the decks of nuclear submarines for use as an insertion platform for covert and clandestine special operations missions. Five more were planned.The first ASDS became operational (completed testing and evaluation) at In the end, cost, technical, and reliability issues proved insurmountable,Funding was provided via Congressional line item to the Special Operations Command.