Amidst the ever-evolving landscape of maritime warfare, one unmanned underwater vehicle
stands apart: the Orca, the world’s first Extra Large Unmanned Underwater Vehicle.
Silent and unstoppable, this state-of-the-art sea drone glides
effortlessly through the water, driven by an advanced diesel-electric propulsion system.
The vehicle possesses the unrivaled ability to embark on autonomous missions that span months,
forever altering the course of naval operations.
As the culmination of years of innovation, research,
and strategic vision, forging a formidable weapon that surpasses all that came before,
the Orca's true power lies in its astonishing versatility.
By stealthily deploying mines, the Orca can create strategic choke points,
disrupt enemy movements and alter the course of battle.
The drone can also Infiltrate hostile territory, gathering vital intelligence
with unmatched stealth and cutting-edge sensors, providing the upper hand to its commanders.
The Orca can even become a devastating force, as its payload bay, equipped with vertical launch
systems, can allow it to unleash a relentless barrage of missiles upon surface and land targets.
As the dawn of a new era in undersea combat emerges, the United States Navy's Orca XLUUV
stands at the forefront, poised to revolutionize the very fabric of maritime superiority.
Set Sail Into The Future
Within the last two decades, naval drones have emerged as crucial assets in modern maritime
operations, reshaping the capabilities and strategies of naval forces all over the world.
Within the United States Navy, several advanced unmanned underwater vehicles
are in different production stages to expand the branch's undersea capabilities.
Among these are the Snakehead, the largest submarine-launched UUV; the Razorback,
a medium-sized vehicle intended for torpedo launch and recovery
missions that requires a dry deck shelter and divers for recovery;
and The Viperfish, a naval drone with similar capabilities.
But the most critical and groundbreaking drone design within the United States
Navy is the world's first extra-large unmanned underwater vehicle, XLUUV.
This vision began in the fall of 2017 when the Navy issued a multimillion-dollar
contract to Boeing and Lockheed Martin to each develop competing designs for an
XLUUV capable of autonomous operation on missions up to several months at a time.
Two years later, Navy executives announced that
Boeing, and shipbuilding partner Huntington Ingalls Industries, were the chosen winners.
In February 2019, the U.S. Navy entrusted the aerospace giant with a $43 million contract
to build four prototypes of the company's XLUUV, the Orca, with the service ordering
a fifth vehicle the following month, scheduled to be delivered in 2022.
Boeing's winning design, the Orca Extra Large Unmanned Undersea Vehicle, is based
on the Echo Voyager, a prototype the company funded and designed for testing purposes only.
Design work on this predecessor began in 2011 at Boeing Phantom Works,
with the primary goal of improving upon earlier designs that required
some level of manned support due to its lacking endurance and range.
The model completed its first phase of sea testing in 2017 when it operated
off the coast of Southern California, and the lessons the Boeing engineers learned
during that process have since been incorporated into the winning design.
One-Of-Its-Kind
Despite the inspiration, Boeing's Orca XLUUV is a separate vehicle in its own right.
Measuring an impressive 85 feet in length, this diesel-electric submarine is engineered
for maximum versatility and endurance in naval operations, as the vehicle can navigate
autonomously or be remotely controlled, making it highly versatile for a range of missions.
One of the standout features of the Boeing design is its hybrid propulsion system,
which combines a diesel engine with modern lithium-ion batteries.
With this, the Orca can operate silently beneath the waves, running on battery power
that is then recharged by air-breathing diesel generators when near the surface.
Utilizing these attributes, the XLUUV can stay at sea for extended periods,
cruising at around three knots, making it well-suited for long missions.
Advanced navigation systems are also one of the critical components of the XLUUV,
incorporating cutting-edge technology that enables precise navigation and obstacle avoidance,
allowing it to operate effectively in diverse underwater environments.
From the shallow littoral zones near coastlines to the deep depths of the open ocean,
the Orca can maneuver confidently and accurately.
The Orca's stealthy acoustic signature further allows it to operate undetected,
seamlessly blending with the surrounding seascape, ensuring that the vehicle can
carry out its missions discreetly without alerting potential adversaries to its presence.
Mine Laying Wonder
The Orca's initial focus is established as a stealthy minelayer during early development.
While the role may be perceived as old-fashioned,
modern minelaying via underwater drone could become a key offensive role in future conflicts.
According to a United States Naval Institute blog written by retired Commander Brian Dulla,
the writer proposes to combine the range, autonomy, and flexibility
of unmanned underwater vehicles like the Orca with the warhead of a mine.
While crewed submarines can carry submarine-launched mobile mines,
the Orca would be even more challenging for an enemy to detect.
At the moment, the Orca is a prime candidate to carry two of the Navy's latest sea mines,
the Hammerhead, a torpedo that waits on the seabed listening for
enemy submarines to strike, and the Clandestine Delivered Mine,
a cylindrical underwater mine whose capabilities remain in the dark.
As with any advanced piece of military technology, the Orca's possibility extends far beyond its
initial mission set, and its potential roles have evolved and expanded, capturing the
imagination of military strategists and fueling speculation about its future capabilities.
Intelligence gathering is another potential role. The Orca could infiltrate enemy territory by
leveraging its stealthy design, long-range endurance, and state-of-the-art sensors,
collecting vital information about their naval assets and movements.
The Orca XLUUV's versatile design also lends itself to antisubmarine warfare.
Equipped with advanced sensors and weaponry, the Orca can effectively
hunt down and neutralize enemy submarines, serving as a formidable undersea hunter-killer.
Its modular construction enables it to carry a wide range of sensors,
weapons, and equipment, making it a truly multi-mission platform.
Additionally, the Orca's payload bay allows for the integration of vertical launch systems,
enabling it to unleash a barrage of cruise missiles against enemy ships,
coastal installations, and even inland targets.
Forging Ahead
The development journey of the Orca Extra Large Unmanned Underwater Vehicle has not
been without its fair share of challenges and setbacks.
According to a report from the Government Accountability Office published in 2022,
the year the prototypes were set to roll out, the program to develop the unmanned minelaying
submarine was three years behind schedule and a whopping $242 million over budget.
One of the significant factors contributing to these setbacks was the impact of the COVID-19
pandemic, which led to production issues essential to the production of the vehicles,
such as a lack of batteries, qualified welders, and titanium.
Despite this, the United States Navy is still committed to the Orca XLUUV program,
and officials have since changed the tentative delivery window to between
February and June 2024 for all five vehicles.
The latest news on the Orca came in early 2023 when the
Navy announced they were preparing to transition its largest unmanned
submarine from land-based testing to underwater trials within the next year.
The emergence of the Orca has sparked a global race in the development of extra-large unmanned
underwater vehicles. While the United States leads the pack, other nations, like Britain,
Japan, China, Russia, and South Korea, are swiftly venturing into this field,
eager to secure their positions at the forefront of maritime technology.
As these nations forge ahead, Boeing's Orca XLUUV's fate as
the world's first vehicle of its kind hangs in the balance.
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