Its deployment was delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) has announced that the DCS underwater vehicle, produced by Lockheed Martin, has reached the initial operational readiness stage. This development is reported by a correspondent from Sarbaz.kz.
The DCS (Dry Combat Submersible) is an underwater vehicle designed for use by US Special Operations Forces in challenging conditions. It is capable of discreetly transporting a group of specialists to their intended destination.
Since 2018, the vehicle has undergone successive tests under various operational conditions.
The US SOCOM command set a goal for the DCS to achieve operational capability in 2019; however, a series of financial difficulties, including the coronavirus pandemic, prevented this plan from being realized.
Nevertheless, throughout 2022, reports emerged indicating that the vehicle was undergoing extensive testing under complex survival conditions.
With the introduction of the DCS into operational service, Special Operations Command will be able to replace the Advanced SEAL Delivery System, a project that was terminated due to budget overruns.
In terms of the stated specifications, the DCS has a displacement of 28 tons, a length of 12 meters, and a width of 2.4 meters. Thanks to its combat electric power system based on lithium-ion batteries, it can achieve a speed of five knots with a range of 60 nautical miles (110 km). The vehicle's crew can comprise up to eight US Special Operations personnel
