Navy Receives “First-of-its-Kind” Massive Submarine-Like Undersea Drone
·
By Kris Osborn, President, Center for Military Modernization
The US Navy has taken delivery of a massive, first-of-its-kinds submarine-like large underwater drone able to patrol the depths of the undersea with advanced sensing and unprecedented endurance.
The Orca, as it is called, is a submarine-size unmanned platform capable of autonomously sensing dark regions of the sea without requiring human intervention. In development for many years, the large, submarine-sized Orca drone evolved from an experimental Unmanned Undersea Vehicle called Echo Voyager which was an 84-foot long undersea drone able to reach depths of 11,000 feet and travel ranges up to 6,500 nautical miles, according to Boeing data.
The first models of Orca now arriving are described as XLUUV Test Asset System called XLEO, a vehicle intended to help refine requirements for Orca and prepare for what will ultimately be an operational submarine-drone. The first of five XLEOs has now arrived, and the Navy and Boeing will collaborate to further mature the platform for operational service.
An essay from Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) describes Orca as an autonomous, diesel-electric submarine with a “modular” payload capacity. Boeing data or Orca says the boat operates with obstacle avoidance, autonomous buoyancy and Synthetic Aperture Sonar.
“This has been a very busy year for the XLUUV (Extra Large Unmanned Undersea Vehicle) team and their hard work is culminating in delivery of the Navy’s first-ever unmanned diesel-electric submarine,” said Capt. Scot Searles, program manager of the Unmanned Maritime Systems (PMS 406) program office.
As a diesel-electric submarine, the Orca will undoubtedly be “quieter” than most existing undersea drones, an advantage which will enable it to reach high-risk, high-threat areas while remaining undetected. This will allow manned submarines to operate at safer stand-off ranges while Orca forward-patrols as an undersea sensor “node” able to detect enemy submarines, surface ships and other threats such as mines or coastal targets.
