JFD Unveils Shadow Seal Tactical Diving Vehicle For Naval Special Forces 

JFD – a part of James Fisher and Sons plc – has launched its superior 4 man tactical diving platform, Shadow Seal, throughout SOF Week 2023, forward of supply to United States accomplice Blue Tide Marine (BTM) for demonstration and coaching functions. Shadow Seal is an adaptable and intensely succesful light-weight Tactical Diving Car (TDV) capable of transport a pilot, navigator and two passengers in floor, semi submerged and submerged mode with a variety of 80nm. Shadow Seal provides unparalleled underwater manoeuvrability to Particular Operations Forces required to covertly cross the increasing offshore and littoral water hole. Adaptable to go well with a wide range of ISTAR and fight necessities, the platform gives refined safety to advanced, excessive worth platforms and important infrastructure.

Rob Hales, JFD Managing Director, says:“The BTM partnership ensures that we are able to supply revolutionary options to modern-day challenges. JFD is dedicated to additional growing our in-country capabilities together with through-life assist companies and this upcoming, essential supply milestone displays a big milestone in our mission to higher serve the US and wider Americas undersea markets.”

Bob Pudney, President, Blue Tide Marine, says: “We’re excited to carry this collaborative effort of JFD and BTM to the subsea sector and sit up for the supply of the Shadow Seal. This multi-mission succesful platform gives a possibility to modernise the undersea capabilities of SOCOM, the US Navy and different company companions with superior mission centered know-how, prolonged vary and provides sensible coaching and in service assist.”

A strategic partnership with BTM was introduced in March 2022 as a part of JFD’s dedication to increasing its US presence and subsea maritime functionality. BTM subsequently bought the primary manufacturing mannequin of Shadow Seal to supply native demonstration and coaching companies – vital milestone in JFD’s journey in the direction of a full turnkey US functionality, inclusive of TDV provision and comply with on assist companies all through the product lifecycle. JFD has been working carefully with the BTM group throughout manufacturing at JFD’s facility in Glasgow, UK, and closing in-water trials, FATS (Manufacturing facility Acceptance Trials) and HATS (Harbour Acceptance Trials) are at the moment underway previous to supply to BTM in Fort Lauderdale, Florida in coming months. JFD will proceed to supply assist and coaching because the craft is delivered to the US.

Shadow Seal was first developed by Ortega Submersibles in The Netherlands which was acquired by JFD in 2019 and has since undergone additional growth and rigorous trials. JFD has mixed 40 years’ expertise inside the subsea area with confirmed know-how; discovered inside JFD’s Service Seal which is in operation with a variety of the World’s Navies. Latest upgrades included within the newest Shadow Seal embody growth of obtainable battery energy enhancing vary and endurance capability of the craft. JFD will probably be exhibiting alongside BTM at SOF Week 2023 on 8-11 Might 2023, and will probably be displaying a prototype mannequin of Shadow Seal (MK1D) on Stand 501 on the Tampa Conference Centre. SOF Week is a vital alternative for JFD US to advertise its world-leading capabilities within the underseas sector, and our UK and US group will probably be readily available to debate Shadow Seal and wider JFD Particular Operations capabilities.