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ASDS
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In a program that began with great promise but soon spiraled out of control, Northrop Grumman has been building the ASDS “Advanced SEAL delivery System” mini-subs, the successors to the previous SDV (SEAL/Swimmer Delivery Vehicle) carried on US Benjamin Franklin Class (SSBN-640) attack submarines.

Unlike the SDV, which is flooded and requires SCUBA gear, the 16 Navy SEALs, MARSOC, or other covert action personnel in an ASDS can arrive at their mission drier, warmer, and less fatigued[1]. The ASDS was meant to be launched from the converted SSGN Ohio Class Special Ops/Land Strike submarines, and also from Virginia Class (SSN-744) submarines, from the improved Los Angeles Class SSN-688I subs Charlotte [SSN 766] and Greeneville [SSN 772], or from the well decks of amphibious assault ships like the LHD Wasp Class or LPD-17 San Antonio Class. The new mini-sub also fits in a C-17 Globemaster or C-5 Galaxy aircraft for rapid transport to an appropriate launch platform.

In the end, however, technical, reliability, and 400% cost overrun issues proved nearly insuperable. The ASDS has been canceled for all intents and purposes; all that’s left is Kenneth Krieg’s April 6, 2006 acquisition decision memorandum directed the Navy and SOCOM to establish an ASDS-1 improvement program to boost the performance of the existing sub, and complete its operational testing. Which limps on, still, as the ARIP…

• The ASDS Program & Its Mission
• ASDS: Taking on Water
• Updates: To Davy Jones’ Locker – and Back Again?
• Appendix A: DID Op/Ed, December 2005
• Appendix B: Additional Readings and Sources

Get instant access all DII coverage of the mini-sub when you subscribe to DII. Our cross-linked article network and reference materials include:

• Events chronology including its technical, reliability, and 400% cost overruns, temporary cancellation, and recent test aboard the Ohio-class cruise missile submarine USS Michigan
• The 2007 GAO report on the ASDS program: "Öthe U.S. Special Operations Command has continued to invest millions of dollars to fix existing problems and address new ones in an attempt to make the boat operational."
• Quick Links to the library of ongoing DII coverage including: "USA Spending $7.1M to Upgrade SEAL Delivery Vehicles, "SSGN ëTactical Trident' Subs: Special Forces and Super Strike Military Transformation," "It's a Boat, It's a Sub, It'sÖ..," "ASDS Mini-Sub Program Goes to Davey Jones' Locker," and "$9.5M Engineering Services Contract Includes ASDS Work"
• Links to related articles and resources including the concept of mini-sub use in the drug trade
• 5 photos

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