Family of Diver Support Equipment

The Family of Diver Support Equipment program is a procurement initiative under the Army's Other Procurement appropriation, specifically within the Construction Equipment sub-activity. This line item aims to provide specialized equipment to support Army Engineer Diver teams in a variety of operational environments. The program's overarching goal is to ensure that Army diving operations are conducted safely and effectively, supporting both military and civil missions such as Joint Logistics Over the Shore (JLOTS), port opening for Seaports of Debarkation (SPODS), and Defense Support of Civil Authorities (DSCA).

The Containerized Diver Recompression Chamber (CDRC) is a central component of this program. The CDRC is a three-person recompression chamber required for all high-risk diving missions, supporting the Army's 12D Engineer Divers. Housed in an ISO container for rapid deployment, the CDRC is designed for use in training, surface decompression, and lifesaving recompression treatment operations. Its features include a skid-mounted aluminum chamber, an Air Supply Rack Assembly (ASRA) for high-pressure air, four integrated oxygen bottles, and an Environmental Control System (ECS) for temperature and humidity regulation. The chamber is capable of reaching pressures equivalent to a sea water depth of 225 feet and is also used to treat pilots suffering from decompression sickness due to loss of cabin pressure.

The Deep Sea Set (DSS) is another major assembly within the Family of Diver Support Equipment. The DSS provides a surface-supplied diving system that meets both commercial and military safety standards. Its primary components include a helmet assembly for diver protection and communications, an umbilical assembly for air supply and depth monitoring, and a communications assembly that allows up to three divers and a supervisor to communicate simultaneously. The DSS supports diving operations to a depth of 250 feet and is the only Army system capable of protecting divers during heavy construction and salvage operations. It is essential for sustained underwater construction missions, particularly those related to ship-to-shore logistics and port opening.

The Underwater Construction Set (UCS) rounds out the Family of Diver Support Equipment. The UCS consists of five individual containers, each equipped with specialized tools and equipment for a range of underwater engineering tasks. The set includes a salvage package for lifting heavy debris, a cutting and welding package for underwater and surface operations, a reconnaissance package for locating and marking underwater obstacles, a hydraulic tool package for construction and debris removal, and a hand tools and hardware package for surface construction support. The UCS is critical for enabling Army Engineer Divers to perform complex underwater construction and recovery operations in support of both military and civil authorities.

The primary objective of the Family of Diver Support Equipment program is to modernize and sustain the Army's diving capabilities. By procuring advanced, deployable, and multi-mission equipment, the program ensures that Army Engineer Divers can safely and efficiently conduct operations in support of logistics, infrastructure, and emergency response missions. The equipment is designed to be rapidly deployable and to meet stringent safety and operational standards, thereby enhancing the Army's ability to respond to a wide range of contingencies.

Funding for this line item in recent years has supported the procurement of a limited number of these systems, with two units acquired in FY 2024 and no new procurement planned for FY 2026. The justification for continued investment in these systems is based on the need to replace aging equipment, address emerging operational requirements, and maintain readiness for both military and civil support missions. The program does not include advance procurement or initial spares in the current budget request, focusing instead on the acquisition of complete, ready-to-deploy systems.