The US Navy's Robotic Submarine 'Orca' is Ready for Stealthy Missions

The US Navy received the first of six "Orca" robotic submarines for high-risk operations to improve naval capabilities by adding unpredictability to hostile circumstances.

Designed for dangerous distant missions, these autonomous submarines boost the Navy's strategic capabilities with surveillance, espionage, and more.

The US Navy received the first Orca sub, officially known as XLE0, on December 20 in Huntington Beach, California. Boeing, the defense contractor, provides six Orcas, with the initial subserving as a testing and evaluation unit, per Popular Mechanics. The subsequent five, designated XLEs 1 to 5, will be fully operational robotic submarines ready for actual missions.

(Photo : Boeing Defense/Twitter)

Orca Submarine Capabilities

The Naval Sea Systems Command NAVSEA describes the Orca as an autonomous, cutting-edge, unmanned diesel-electric submarine with a modular payload section that can perform diverse missions to improve the Navy's undersea functions.

The Orca subs, based on Boeing's Echo Voyager prototype, the Extra Large Unmanned Undersea Vehicle (XLUUV), are versatile new submarines. Larger than the Echo Voyager, these robotic submarines weigh 50 tons, measure 51 feet, and dive 11,000 feet. Unlike standard diesel-electric submarines, the Orcas can achieve eight knots on a hybrid diesel-electric propulsion system and operate off battery power for lengthy periods.

Orca's 34-foot cargo bay is conveniently placed in the submarine's middle. This bay integrates sensors, communication systems, and other mission-specific components seamlessly, making the Orca submarine versatile.

The potential applications for the Orca are expansive. It can undertake missions ahead of carrier task forces, scouting for enemy ships and submarines before manned vessels enter the range. Additionally, it can closely approach and monitor the electronic communications of enemy forces on land or at sea, leveraging its small size for discreet operations.

In scenarios where US GPS satellites face disruptions, the Orca can surface in the path of American warplanes or cruise missiles on long-range missions, relaying positioning data as they pass overhead. Furthermore, the Orca can contribute to search and rescue efforts, aiding in locating missing sailors and airmen after a battle.

The US Navy has not yet confirmed Orca's weapon-carrying capabilities, although its payload section can transport mines. It can lay mines silently and return to a friendly port with this flexibility. Adding anti-ship missiles to the payload bay might increase its offensive capabilities.

Major Achievement for US Navy

The Orca submarine's unique combination of payload capacity, extended range, and unmanned operation positions it as an ideal candidate for high-risk missions, contributing to naval strategy and bolstering the US Navy's capabilities in evolving geopolitical landscapes.

Boeing's delivery of the first "Orca" robotic submarine marks a "significant milestone" in advancing the Navy's undersea capabilities, according to theNAVSEA. Leveraging Boeing's extensive experience, the Orca is the Navy's inaugural unmanned diesel-electric submarine, building on insights from the Echo Voyager prototype, per USNI News.

Unmanned Maritime Systems Program Office (PMS 406) program manager Scot Searles said the Orca submarine has 16 test periods left. "It's got 15 to 16 more trials playing. So, 16 test periods and each one has its own way," the official said, as quoted by Naval News.

Despite its cutting-edge features, the program needs help, including a reported $242 million budget overrun and a three-year delay, according to the Government Accountability Office. The Orca delivery aligns with the Navy's broader strategy to incorporate unmanned surface and underwater vessels into its future fleet.

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