Military orders new stealthy boats with advanced electronics for infiltrating and extracting special forces

Questions and answers:

• What is the primary purpose of the Combatant Craft Heavy V (CCH V)? It offers Naval Special Warfare teams advanced stealth capabilities for insertion, extraction, and support during high-risk and covert missions.
• How is the CCH V transported for deployment? It can be transported by C-17 aircraft or sling-loaded by heavy-lift helicopters.
• What advanced electronics does the CCH V use? Command, control, communications, cyber-defense systems, reconnaissance sensors, navigation systems, and electronic warfare capabilities to enhance and survivability.

MacDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. – U.S. clandestine special forces experts needed technologically advanced stealthy boats for insertion, extraction, and support of Navy SEALs and other special operations units. They found a solution from Fincantieri Marine Group LLC in Washington.

Officials of U.S. Special Operations Command at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., announced a $22.1 million contract option late last month to produce the Combatant Craft Heavy V (CCH V) stealthy special operations boats, designed primarily for use by Naval Special Warfare teams.

The CCH V is the fifth iteration in the Combatant Craft Heavy program, and is known for being among the largest and most technologically advanced boats in the U.S. Special Operations Command. It offers low observability, modularity, and improved capability for high-risk and covert missions, and uses advanced stealth and electronic technologies to evade detection.

Also called the SEAL Insertion, Observation, and Neutralization craft (SEALION), the CCH V is enclosed, semi-submersible, and provides enhanced crew and operator protection against detection and small arms fire. The boat is 80 feet long, 14.5 feed wide, and 9.5 feet high.

Aircraft-transportable

The boat can be transported by C-17 aircraft or sling-loaded by heavy-lift helicopters for deployment. It replaces earlier generations like the Mark V Special Operations Craft.

CCH V has advanced electronics designed for stealth, command, control, intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and modular mission support.

Its main electronic subsystems include command, control, communications, computers, cyber-defense, and combat systems (C6ISR); reconnaissance and surveillance sensors; navigation systems; communications equipment; electronic warfare (EW) and passive detection systems; launch and recovery interfaces; and sensor mast systems.

C6ISR electronics enables command and communication with other naval assets, including robust cyber-defense and computer systems. Reconnaissance and surveillance sensors include retractable sensor masts with high-resolution cameras; electronic sensors for surface and underwater surveillance; and Forward Looking Infrared (FLIR) sensors for enhanced night and low-visibility operations.

Tell me more about special forces insertion and extraction ...

• Special Forces insertion and extraction enable elite units to enter and exit hostile territory quickly, and require skill and coordination. Infiltration involves getting special forces personnel behind enemy lines without being detected by aircraft, boats, vehicles, or tunnels. Extraction involves removing special forces safely after completing a mission. Insertion and extraction must be fast and stealthy by low-observable aircraft or stealth boats.

Navigation systems include inertial and Doppler navigation, echo sounders, terrain-following sonar, and advanced electronic chart systems for precise marine navigation.

Communications equipment includes underwater telephones, UHF radios, encrypted low-probability-of-intercept links, and data transmission for joint operations. EW and passive detection systems detect, classify, and evade enemy radar, while passive electronic and cyber warfare measures improve survivability in contested environments.

Launch and recovery interfaces integrate with uncrewed surface and underwater vehicles, plus specialized payload control systems for munitions and mission packages. Modular masts offer mission-specific sensors for reconnaissance, navigation, or communications. CCH V boats also can accommodate pop-up missile launchers with stand-off munitions.

On this contract option, Fincantieri Marine will do the work in Green Bay, Wis., and should be finished by November 2027. For more information contact Fincantieri Marine Group online at https://fincantierimarinegroup.com/, or U.S. Special Operations Command at www.socom.mil.