- US particular operators are investing in tech to offer it a bonus towards extremely succesful adversaries.
- US Particular Operations Command lately awarded a $10 million contract for jet boots to offer its divers that edge.
With the US army reorienting itself for a possible battle with a extremely succesful adversary, the US special-operations group is investing in capabilities and expertise that will give it a bonus in such a battle.
A current funding is in a futuristic piece of expertise that will have loads of advantages for one in every of that group’s hardest job: fight diver.
Jet boots
—Patriot3, Inc. (@Patriot3Inc) Might 26, 2022
In April, US Particular Operations Command awarded a $10 million contract to the Virginia-based firm Patriot3 for the acquisition and upkeep of the Jet Boots Diver Propulsion System. The contract is a “firm-fixed-price” settlement for the supply of an indefinite variety of jets boots as much as 2027.
Jet boots use a battery pack and a brushless motor system to propel the diver. The boots have two thrusters on the facet of every leg that the operator can maneuver with their physique, releasing up their palms for different duties.
Jet boots are primarily utilized by the Army Special Forces combat-diver groups and Navy SEALs, and variations at the moment in use can transfer a diver at speeds as much as 4 knots whereas permitting them to be “fully relaxed” and preserve vitality.
The consensus amongst particular operators who’ve used jet boots is that when you get used to them they’re very straightforward to make use of and function. For instance, particular operators utilizing jet boots throughout go to, board, search, and seizure missions or maritime counterterrorism operations might get on course quicker and be extra rested as soon as they arrive.
US Navy/CPO Andrew McKaskle
The boots have advantages and downsides, in response to John Black, a retired Inexperienced Beret warrant officer.
“Fight divers are recognized to and anticipated to have the ability to dive for very lengthy intervals of time and to swim for hours on finish. Relying on the present of the water and the tempo of the dive, this might go away the diver exhausted by the point he reaches the seashore. Then the diver is predicted to conduct a mission,” Black informed Insider.
“Diving is a way of infiltration. The fight diver can’t be exhausted simply from the infiltration,” Black added.
Transferring via the water with such ease can be an amazing assist to fight divers, however in some instances, there’s a draw back to minimizing exertion.
“In colder waters, utilizing jet boots should be rigorously deliberate,” Black mentioned. “A diver being immobile for an hour in chilly water, whereas continually breaking new water, might go away the diver hypothermic. So it should be remembered that it’s a instrument, not a automobile.”
An asset if used proper
—Patriot3, Inc. (@Patriot3Inc) February 4, 2022
Having the ability to go farther quicker and arriving much less fatigued — and thus higher ready — can be an asset to a fight diver group and will make a distinction between success and failure.
“They arrive with a hefty price ticket, however you get wonderful outcomes. You could have guys doing 5-[kilometer swims] and utilizing barely any oxygen and extra importantly being fully rested and able to go upon hitting the seashore,” a retired Inexperienced Beret with in depth expertise in fight diver operations informed Insider.
The Army Special Forces operator spoke on the situation of anonymity due to ongoing work with the federal government.
A major tenet of US particular operations is that “folks — not tools — make the crucial distinction,” and particular operators acquainted with the jet boots warning towards relying an excessive amount of on expertise, as a poorly chosen and skilled commando will not be as efficient no matter tools.
US special-operations forces will proceed to evolve together with their mission set, Black informed Insider.
“If we anticipate our greatest fighters to go wherever and do something, they should be geared up with probably the most up-to-date expertise and tools,” Black mentioned. “I do see SOF groups utilizing these [boots] extra usually, nevertheless holding their core duties and health on the base of all the pieces they do.”
Stavros Atlamazoglou is a protection journalist specializing in particular operations, a Hellenic Army veteran (nationwide service with the 575th Marine Battalion and Army HQ), and a Johns Hopkins College graduate.
