It provided stealthy submerged transportation for United States Navy SEALs from the decks of nuclear submarines for use as an insertion platform for covert and clandestine special operations missions.

The Navy replaced the ASDS with the Dry Combat Submersible (DCS) from Lockheed Martin, which is roughly half the size and became operational in 2023.

[2][3] ASDS was conceived to address the need for stealthy long-range insertion of special operations forces on covert or clandestine missions.

[1] From there, it was deployed to the Indian Ocean and Persian Gulf on board Los Angeles-class nuclear attack submarine USS Greeneville, as a unit of Expeditionary Strike Group One.

A Congressional Budget Office (CBO) in 2003 cited two major technical problems: noisy propellers and silver-zinc batteries that depleted more quickly than planned.

Yardney Technical Products of Pawcatuck, Connecticut, was awarded a $44 million contract modification to provide four lithium-ion batteries for the ASDS program by May 2009.

[1] Navigation – Sonar systems developed for attack submarines, but needed for the shallow water maneuvers, were large, power hungry, and gave off excessive heat.

[12] Given the probable extent of fire and water damage (the mini-sub burned for six hours and remained sealed for two weeks) it was highly unlikely that the craft could be saved.

[12] On 24 July 2009, US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) announced that the ASDS was not going to be repaired citing "competing funding priorities.

"[8] After the Advanced SEAL Delivery System's cancellation, the Navy pursued the Joint Multi-Mission Submersible, although this follow-on program was abandoned in 2010 over cost concerns.