ASDS Killed, for good this time.

The Navy has axed the Advanced Seal Delivery System (ASDS). After a fire last November caused over $200M in damage, the Navy decided to go ahead and kill the ASDS and not even repair the one delivered. I think over $1B had been spent already on this thing, and it just wasn't working out.

What also wasn't working out was who was going to pay for it and that was always a problem.

According to the Honolulu Advertiser, "Funding has been requested for the Joint Multi-Mission Submersible program to develop an alternate SEAL insertion craft. The online publication Inside the Navy reported in June that $43.4 million was being sought for pre-design work for the mini-sub that would provide 'improved performance' over ASDS."

This supposedly is in the 2010 budget.

So, the SEALS will remain wet for now.

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ASDS-1 operates from SSGN. Finally!

In what can be characterized in the "good news" department, the first Advanced Seal Delivery System (ASDS-1) has finally passed an operational test on the USS Michigan. This oft-maligned and expensive program may have turned a corner. Or, it may not have...


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