Midget submarine JFD Shadow Seal completes tests
Shadow Seal on the surface
The British company JFD is completing work on the promising ultra-small submarine Shadow Seal, designed to transport combat swimmers and some cargo. The final design of this product has been formed, and it is now undergoing final factory tests. In the near future, the finished sample will be handed over to one of the potential customers for additional testing and evaluation.
Project development
The first version of the ultra-small submarine (SMPL) Shadow Seal (“Shadow Seal”) was developed in the mid-XNUMXs by the Dutch company Ortega Submersibles. At that time, this product was considered as a multi-purpose vehicle, and it was planned to be offered to both military and civilian customers.
In 2019, the Shadow Force project was purchased by the British company JFD (Aberdeen, Scotland) from the James Fisher and Sons plc group. She began developing and improving the design, and also reconsidered its purpose. The submarine was completely transferred to the category of military equipment and was planned to be offered to the navies of different countries. It was assumed that such a SMPL would be of interest to special units of combat swimmers. In addition, based on the technologies and solutions of the purchased project, we developed several of our own products with different features.
In March 2022, JFD signed a cooperation agreement with the American company Blue Tide Marine, whose main goal was to enter the US market and obtain relevant contracts. The new SMPL was going to be offered to the Special Operations Command and other government agencies in need of special equipment for divers.
In May 2023, the Pentagon's Special Operations Command held another exhibition and conference, and JFD and BTM took part in it. At this event, they showed a new version of the Shadow Seal submarine, which is planned to be offered to American customers. The companies predictably praised their project and claimed that the Pentagon would definitely be interested in it.
Plans for the future
In May it was reported that the Shadow Seal submarine had already entered factory testing and was demonstrating its characteristics and capabilities. This work was planned to be completed within a few months, after which the prototype was expected to be handed over to a potential customer for its own testing and evaluation.
Recently these data were clarified. The military-technical exhibition DSEI-12 was held in London on September 15-2023, and JFD and BTM did not miss the opportunity to show their new development and reveal plans for the future. As Jane's reports, the first serial-design SMPL has already been manufactured, and the final stage of testing is being prepared.
The tests will take place off the Scottish coast, near the manufacturing plant. They will take approximately six weeks to complete and will be completed by early November or later. Then the submarine will undergo the necessary maintenance, and it will be sent to the USA, to the BTM facility in Fort Lauderdale, PC. Florida.
Underwater at shallow depths
The American company will promote Shadow Power in the local market. They will participate in relevant competitions of the Pentagon and other structures, conduct demonstrations, etc. Tests are also expected to be carried out with the participation of the Special Operations Command, which is considered as the main customer. Time will tell how successful all these activities will be.
Technical features
The Shadow Seal product is an ultra-small submarine with a distinctive appearance, designed to transport divers and/or some cargo. Movement is provided in a surface, semi-submerged or submerged position. The design uses a number of characteristic solutions aimed at improving the basic characteristics, reducing the cost of production and simplifying operation.
The basis of the design is a streamlined fiberglass hull, similar to a boat. Some of the main units, probably such as batteries, are located in the bow of the hull. The center is given over to two double cabins for the crew, and in the stern there is a power plant and other devices. Large-area horizontal rudders are provided in the bow and stern of the hull.
The total length of the submarine is approx. 8 with a width of approx. 1 m. The dead weight of the structure is 2 tons. The payload reaches 750 kg. The submarine is designed to operate at depths of no more than 22-24 m.
Control post
The submarine is completely electric. Two propellers in ring channels are responsible for the movement. When on the surface, the vessel can reach speeds of up to 4,5 knots. The maximum cruising range reaches 80 nautical miles, the maximum voyage duration is 20 hours. The semi-submersible position reduces the maximum speed to 4 knots and shortens the duration of continuous movement. When submerged, the SMPL moves even slower, and its cruising range depends, first of all, on the equipment of the crew.
Shadow Seal carries up to four people in diving gear. They are placed two at a time in two cabins of a tandem arrangement. The cabins are open and have only transparent visors. The body also has a compartment for transporting additional equipment, weapons, etc.
There is a control station in the front cabin. It contains a monitor for displaying various information, incl. video signal, as well as all the necessary controls. The crew has at their disposal an optical-electronic station that performs the functions of a periscope. The cameras are located on a telescopic mast 4,2 m high and can be used in surface and submerged positions.
The presence of a remote control mode is reported. In this case, the SMPL is controlled by an operator from shore or on board another vessel. The range of operation in this mode is limited and depends on the conditions determining the passage of the radio signal.
Shadow Seal (above) compared to another JFD submarine
The Shadow Seal submarine, depending on the specifics of the task at hand, can operate independently or in conjunction with a carrier. The latter can be any vessel with the ability to transport, launch and lift an SMPL. Along with the submarine, maintenance equipment, remote control equipment, etc. must be placed on board.
In the process of checking
At the moment, the “Shadow Seal”, already in serial form, is undergoing the next stage of testing. We are talking about final checks, based on the results of which the product will be fully launched into the market. In addition, now the finished development will be shown to potential customers, incl. priority. What the result of such a demonstration and subsequent tests will be is still unknown.
From a technical point of view, the Shadow Seal SMPL is a rather interesting example. The Ortega Submersibles and JFD companies have found a successful balance of modern technologies, materials and engineering solutions, due to which high technical and performance characteristics have been achieved. After some refinement and adaptation, such a design can satisfy the requirements and needs of combat swimmers.
The Shadow Force product is quite compact and lightweight, which allows it to be used in various media. At the same time, it carries four divers with personal equipment, as well as additional cargo. The all-electric power plant provides sufficient driving performance and also reduces noise and, as a result, the likelihood of detection.
Of interest is the proposed composition of on-board equipment and its functions. Thus, unlike a number of other similar watercraft, the Shadow Seal has its own simple reconnaissance means in the form of an ECO. The presence of this device greatly improves the situational awareness of the crew and provides associated benefits. Also interesting is the presence of remote control. For example, it will make it possible to return submarines to the carrier after disembarking swimmers or provide the latter with transport for evacuation.
Upcoming events
Thus, the British company JFD took the Dutch Shadow Seal project, modified it according to new requirements, and is now going to offer the finished product to the military departments of different countries. First of all, the United States is considered as a potential buyer - they always show interest in new developments and have the ability to place large orders.
A hypothetical contract from the Pentagon's Special Operations Command or another American entity is of particular value to JFD and BTM. It will bring the expected profit, and will also serve as an advertisement for the Shadow Seal product. A positive decision by the United States could become an additional competitive advantage, and other countries would also want to purchase such equipment.
Information