SOCOM Awards $10 Million Contract for Jet Boots for Special Operators

• US specific operators are investing in tech to give it an edge towards remarkably able adversaries.
• US Unique Operations Command a short while ago awarded a $10 million deal for jet boots to give its divers that edge.

With the US army reorienting by itself for a potential conflict with a remarkably able adversary, the US specific-functions community is investing in capabilities and technological innovation that would give it an benefit in these a conflict.

A the latest investment is in a futuristic piece of technologies that would have a ton of positive aspects for a person of that community’s toughest career: fight diver.

Jet boots

—Patriot3, Inc. (@Patriot3Inc) Could 26, 2022

In April, US Special Operations Command awarded a $10 million deal to the Virginia-based organization Patriot3 for the obtain and upkeep of the Jet Boots Diver Propulsion Technique. The deal is a “company-preset-value” arrangement for the supply of an indefinite quantity of jets boots up to 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 each and every leg that the operator can maneuver with their system, freeing up their palms for other responsibilities.

Jet boots are primarily made use of by the Army Exclusive Forces combat-diver teams and Navy SEALs, and variations now in use can shift a diver at speeds up to 4 knots when permitting them to be “absolutely peaceful” and preserve electricity.

The consensus amongst exclusive operators who have used jet boots is that once you get utilised to them they are extremely straightforward to use and function. For example, unique operators making use of jet boots during pay a visit to, board, search, and seizure missions or maritime counterterrorism operations could get on concentrate on quicker and be more rested at the time they arrive.

US Navy/CPO Andrew McKaskle

The boots have added benefits and drawbacks, in accordance to John Black, a retired Green Beret warrant officer.

“Overcome divers are identified to and anticipated to be ready to dive for incredibly lengthy periods of time and to swim for hrs on close. Relying on the current of the drinking water and the rate of the dive, this could depart the diver exhausted by the time he reaches the beach. Then the diver is expected to conduct a mission,” Black explained to Insider.

“Diving is a implies of infiltration. The combat diver can not be fatigued just from the infiltration,” Black included.

Going through the water with such ease would be a terrific assist to battle divers, but in some circumstances, there is a draw back to reducing exertion.

“In colder waters, working with jet boots must be carefully prepared,” Black mentioned. “A diver becoming motionless for an hour in chilly water, although consistently breaking new drinking water, could go away the diver hypothermic. So it need to be remembered that it is a resource, not a automobile.”

An asset if utilized ideal

—Patriot3, Inc. (@Patriot3Inc) February 4, 2022

Being equipped to go farther quicker and arriving significantly less fatigued — and as a result improved prepared — would be an asset to a battle diver staff and could make a variation among success and failure.

“They come with a hefty price tag, but you get astounding outcomes. You have guys accomplishing 5-[kilometer swims] and utilizing hardly any oxygen and far more importantly currently being completely rested and completely ready to go upon hitting the seashore,” a retired Green Beret with considerable experience in fight diver functions advised Insider.

The Army Special Forces operator spoke on the problem of anonymity because of ongoing perform with the authorities.

A primary tenet of US distinctive operations is that “individuals — not machines — make the critical big difference,” and particular operators familiar with the jet boots warning versus relying also much on engineering, as a inadequately picked and qualified commando would not be as productive no matter of machines.

US exclusive-operations forces will keep on to evolve along with their mission established, Black instructed Insider.

“If we hope our most effective fighters to go any place and do something, they ought to be equipped with the most up-to-date engineering and machines,” Black reported. “I do see SOF teams employing these [boots] additional often, nevertheless retaining their main duties and exercise at the foundation of all the things they do.”

Stavros Atlamazoglou is a protection journalist specializing in special operations, a Hellenic Military veteran (countrywide support with the 575th Marine Battalion and Military HQ), and a Johns Hopkins University graduate.