U.S. Navy Tests SEAL-Operated Submersibles With Underwater Drones To Expand Covert Maritime Operations

The United States Navy is testing a new way of underwater warfare where Navy SEALs inside mini-submarines work together with unmanned underwater drones.

The goal is to make covert missions safer, extend how far SEAL teams can operate, and reduce risk in heavily defended maritime zones.

The tests involve Navy SEAL-operated submersibles, known as SEAL Delivery Vehicles (SDVs), teaming up with uncrewed underwater vehicles (UUVs).

These underwater drones can move ahead of human teams to carry out reconnaissance, detect mines, identify threats, map underwater terrain, and monitor enemy activity before SEALs enter dangerous waters.

Military officials say this approach could reduce operational risk while improving mission reach in contested underwater areas.

The concept is still under development, but it is part of a shift toward combining human forces with autonomous systems in modern warfare.

How the system is expected to work

Navy Capt. Mike Linn, speaking to The War Zone at the SOF Week conference, said the aim is to allow SEALs travelling in SDVs to deploy underwater drones once they reach operational areas.

He explained that SDVs and UUVs together can increase underwater capability.

“So, if you can get somewhere in an SDV and then launch a UUV to do something, then that would make you more capable,” he said.

He compared the idea to aerial warfare, where manned aircraft operate alongside drones. A similar model is now being explored underwater.

“You could extrapolate… the same can be said for underseas,” he added.

Why the Navy is testing this

For years, SEAL teams have used SEAL Delivery Vehicles (SDVs) to secretly approach enemy coastlines, harbours, and offshore targets.

The current main system is the Mk 11 SDV, also called the Shallow Water Combat Submersible (SWCS).

It is about 22.5 feet long, carries a crew of two, and can transport six passengers. It is a “wet” submersible, meaning operators remain exposed to seawater during the entire mission.

The Navy has also introduced Dry Combat Submersibles (DCS), which have a pressurised cabin for two crew and up to eight passengers.

These allow longer and deeper missions while keeping operators dry and reducing fatigue and health risks. However, they are too large to fit into existing Dry Deck Shelters and may require a surface support vessel.

At the same time, the Navy already operates several types of UUVs, torpedo-shaped underwater drones used for surveillance, intelligence gathering, mine countermeasures, and long-range missions.

The idea now is to combine these systems so drones can go ahead of SEAL teams into high-risk zones.

What underwater drones will do

The UUVs being tested can support SEAL missions by:

• Scouting ahead for underwater mines
• Detecting enemy surveillance systems
• Monitoring harbour activity
• Mapping safe underwater routes
• Gathering intelligence in hostile waters

This is especially useful in heavily defended areas such as harbour entrances and maritime chokepoints, where sending larger crewed platforms is more risky.

Capt. Linn said a small unmanned system entering first could reduce risk for human operators. “It can be an overall risk-reducer,” he said.

Technology challenges remain

Despite the progress, the Navy says major technical problems still need to be solved before full deployment is possible.

One of the biggest challenges is communication underwater. Current systems struggle to reliably transfer data between crewed submersibles and unmanned drones.

Linn described both systems as being “deaf, dumb, and blind” when it comes to coordination.

“Through-water data transfer is difficult,” he said, adding that the Navy is exploring acoustic and light-based communication methods.

Another challenge is how the drones will physically be carried and launched. SDVs have limited space, and it is still unclear whether drones will be attached externally or carried inside.

“You’ve got to consider your volume in the SDV, which is not great,” Linn said. “Are you going to strap it to the outside?”

Where testing is happening

The testing is being led by the Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division (NSWC PCD) in Florida.

Officials say early trials are already underway, but the technology is still years away from being fully reliable for operational missions.

Linn said the Navy is still working on getting the systems to the level of accuracy and coordination needed for real-world use.

“I think we’re still years away from having something at the reliability level that they want,” he said.

The military is rapidly developing underwater drones for surveillance, intelligence, mine clearing, and long-distance operations, including systems that can launch directly from submarines.

If successful, combining SEAL teams with underwater drones could improve covert operations, intelligence gathering, and missions in heavily defended coastal regions.

However, officials say the concept is still experimental, and key challenges in communication, coordination, and deployment methods remain unresolved.

For now, the Navy continues testing, with no confirmed timeline for full operational deployment.

References: interestingengineering, twz