The US Navy SEALs are set to enhance their Combat Craft Medium (CCM) boats with new capabilities for launching loitering munitions and surveillance drones, aiming to boost the tactical effectiveness of these vessels in special operations. These 60-foot boats, which serve crucial roles in inserting and extracting Navy SEAL teams, are undergoing modifications to include a multi-pod launcher system capable of deploying a variety of combat and support payloads.
This initiative was highlighted during the Special Operations Forces (SOF) Week conference, where a graphic illustration of the launcher showed a system designed to house eight or more pods. These modifications are part of a broader effort by the Special Operations Command to innovate and adapt to modern warfare demands. The planned enhancements include the ability to deploy loitering munitions aimed at targets like individuals, vehicles, and small boats, as well as equipment for surveillance and electronic warfare.
The CCM, developed by Vigor Industrial and introduced in 2015, is known for its speed and capacity, supporting a crew of four and nineteen passengers over a range of 600 nautical miles. The addition of the new launcher system is expected to go through final testing and live-fire trials by late 2024 or early 2025. Once approved, all 31 boats in the fleet will receive the updates in phases to maintain operational readiness.
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