Lockheed Martin to soon deliver DCS 1 to the USSOCOM.

Lockheed Martin is on contract with USSOCOM for the production of Dry Combat Submersible (DCS) 1, DCS 2, and DCS 3. “The contract delivery date of DCS 1 is June 28, 2019,” according to Jon Beckerman, DCS Program Manager, Lockheed Martin Navigation, Surveillance & Unmanned Systems.

Artist rendering of the Dry Combat Submersible (DCS) 1 of Lockheed Martin (Picture Source: Lockheed Martin)

This craft will put “dry” in this new SEAL delivery craft mini-fleet, with the key feature of the new DCS being the maritime operators will be fully enclosed inside a mini-submarine while in transit, reducing their exposure to cold water and fatigue. The legacy-era SEAL Delivery Vehicle is a semi-enclosed submersible in which the SEALs ride, exposed to the water while breathing from the vehicle's compressed air supply or using their own SCUBA gear. “The DCS has a larger payload and longer endurance than the current wet combat submersibles,” Mr Beckerman added.

Major industry members and their responsibility on the Lockheed Martin-led DCS team include General Atomics (LiFT (Lithium Ion Fault Tolerant) battery system provider); Submergence Group, and their wholly owned subsidiary MSubs, LTD (design agent, submersible manufacturer); and Det Norske Veritas Germanischer Lloyd (DNV GL). Lockheed Martin confirmed: “There are currently no Foreign Military Sales cases involving the Dry Combat Submersible.”