The US Navy’s Orca Extra Large Uncrewed Undersea Vehicle (XLUUV) has been making steady progress with testing following the delivery of the UUV last month.
Responding to questions from reporters at this year’s Surface Navy Association national symposium, Scot Searles, the program manager of the Unmanned Maritime Systems Program Office (PMS 406), stated that the UUV had 16 test periods remaining.
“It’s got 15 to 16 more trials playing. So, 16 test periods and each one has its own way.” said Searles
Searles stated the Navy has already done some preliminary tests involving the UUV’s controls, propulsion and its ability to sail autonomously last month. He added that the UUV is currently at Huntington Beach, California and will resume testing later this month.
According to Searles, the remaining tests will involve every sensor onboard the UUV, as well as its ability to avoid obstacles and carry out various mission profiles.
So far, the US Navy has procured six Orca UUVs—one test and training vehicle and five prototypes—under two separate contracts which have a cumulative value of $281 million.
Searles stated that the Navy expects to take delivery of the five follow-on prototype vehicles this year. The Navy’s Fiscal Year 2024 budget documents indicate that the first vehicle of the five is complete, while the remaining four vehicles are set to complete fabrication In the third quarter of this year.
This plan could potentially be disrupted by fabrication-related issues that vehicles have encountered stemming from the usage of titanium in the hulls.
“There’s a lot of titanium built into these vessels and that’s not a forgiving material to work with,” said Searles.
However, Searles emphasized that Boeing, who is the prime for the program, has been working hard to address the issues.
“I will tell you our prime we’re very thrilled with. Our prime has been very aggressive in getting after correcting everything…So very happy with how Boeing has been doing it, as much as anybody would have liked to have not had any problems,” said Searles
If all things go according to plan for the program, the first vehicle of the five will be delivered to the Navy in the coming months and the remaining vehicles later this year.
About the Orca Extra Large Uncrewed Undersea Vehicle (XLUUV)
The Orca is an Extra Large Unmanned Underwater Vehicle (UUV) developed as part of the US Navy’s UUV Family of Systems (FoS) to address a Joint Emergent Operational Need (JEON). The current vehicle measures 85 feet (26 meters) in length, has a displacement of about 85 tons and uses a diesel electric propulsion system that gives it a 6,000 nautical miles range.
The UUV features a 34 inch (0.86 meter) modular payload bay that has a capacity of 8 tons. This payload bay has defined interfaces that future and current payloads such as the Hammerhead, will adhere to.
The US Navy’s Unmanned Undersea Vehicles Squadron One (UUVRON-1) is currently working on developing and documenting tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) for the Orca XLUUV.
According to the US Navy’s budget documents, the service is updating facilities at the Naval Base Ventura County site for CONUS XLUUV testing, training, and work-ups.
The document also states that the Navy is working through the process of establishing and developing infrastructure that will support XLUUV OCONUS basing, fleet integration and in-theater forward operational capability, including support platforms, trailers, maintenance equipment, and ashore hardware.
Following the completion of Government testing in FY25, the US Navy might exercise three production options for more vehicles in FY26. The production options would coincide with the transition to an Acquisition Category (ACAT) Program.
