US SEALS to evaluate "Skjold"

If this vessel was to be acquired, would it be to supplemen the Mark V or to eventually replace it?

From JDW 7 Dec 2005

Reliability concerns delay US mini-sub
JOSHUA KUCERA JDW Staff Reporter
Washington, DC

Additional reporting Nick Brown Jane’s Naval Desk Editor
The ASDS programme has been restructured to direct all the funds allocated for the next two submarines into developing the first one SOCOM officials say they are still committed to having a miniature submarine
A US Navy mini-submarine programme is being curtailed to concentrate on fixing problems with the first prototype, US military officials have said.
The first of a planned six Advanced SEAL (SEa, Air and Land commando) Delivery Systems (ASDS) was scheduled to undergo an evaluation in January to pave the way for a decision on whether to enter low-rate initial production in April. However, officials from US Special Operations Command (SOCOM), which is funding the submarine, said that the prototype was not ready for the test.
“Given the reliability concerns over Hull 1, it was not apparent that we were going to get to that point,” said Vice Admiral Eric Olson, SOCOM’s deputy commander.
Now the programme has been restructured to direct all the funds allocated for the next two boats into developing the first one. The second was scheduled to be completed by Fiscal Year 2008 and the third the year after. When these versions will be built is now unclear, Vice Adm Olson said.
The SOCOM decision was made based on recommendations of a panel that it convened of industry and defence experts.
While the exact financial details have yet to be worked out, it is likely that some of the money from the programme will now go into other Department of Defense (DoD) priorities, Vice Adm Olson said. The DoD has spent USD446 million on the programme so far.
The programme – SOCOM’s largest maritime acquisition – is intended to carry US Navy SEALs from a larger submarine to the shore and has long been troubled and is the subject of congressional scrutiny. The craft has had problems with its battery and propeller, but SOCOM officials said these problems were being dealt with. However, a new problem with the propulsion motor has more recently arisen.
There have also been problems with the ASDS making too much noise, though contractor Northrop Grumman says these have been largely solved. The acoustic stealth developments that SOCOM had been working on for the second craft will now go into the current prototype.
There are no plans to take the programme away from Northrop Grumman. “There’s no reason to re-compete at this point since we’re still trying to fix Hull 1,” said Dale Uhler, SOCOM’s acquisition executive. However, SOCOM officials did not rule out the possibility of eventually holding a new competition. “We’re open-minded about where the programme might take us,” Vice Adm Olson said.
Adm Olson said that SOCOM and the US Navy remained committed to acquiring the miniature submarine. “Given the importance of the mission and the need to ensure the safety of our personnel, SOCOM and the navy must be completely confident in the reliability of the craft before committing to build additional hulls to a specific design,” he said.
Northrop Grumman said it expects to continue to work with SOCOM: “Although we’re disappointed with the US Special Operations Command’s decision to delay the procurement of long lead material for Boat 2, the additional enhancements originally planned for Boat 2 will add capability, advanced technology, improved performance and greater reliability to Boat 1, making it an even more valuable asset to the warfighter.”

Sweet ride and a great punch

HAve always liked the vessel