The Navy has received the first robotic submarine

The Boeing Company handed over to the U.S. Navy a large robotic submarine after a series of sea trials. Boeing has handed over a large robotic submarine to the U.S. Navy after a series of sea trials, UNN writes, citing information from the company and the U.S. Navy.

A diesel-electric ultra-large unmanned underwater vehicle called Orca, or XLUUV , will be used for testing, to help the Navy refine concepts for unmanned submarines and surface ships. surface ships.

Although the Navy has not disclosed the exact specifications of the submarine, it is based on a non-military. Boeing Echo Voyager prototype that is more than 15 meters long and two and a half meters wide. [It can be equipped with payload modules up to 34 feet long, bringing its resulting in a total length of about 26 meters.

Orca "can perform long duration mission-critical missions to achieve underwater maritime dominance in changing conditions and contested waters," according to a statement Boeing. The company positions the robotic submarine as "the most advanced and powerful UAS (unmanned underwater apparatus) in the world."

The submarine is designed to carry a variety of payload modules that can be that can be swapped out for different missions.

According to Boeing , the uncrewed submarine is designed to remain at sea "for months at a time in open, congested and contested waters with virtually no human intervention."

"Orca has undergone several phases of sea trials, including surface and underwater maneuvers, to demonstrate the unique capabilities of the vehicles," Boeing said.

For years. Pentagon officials have been talking about how large robotic submarines could help the U.S. military increase its capabilities, especially in the Pacific and against a military buildup. its capabilities, especially in the Pacific and against China's military buildup. China's military buildup. The Orca XLUUV appears to be the largest development of a robotic submarines of the Navy.