According to the company that will supply these unmanned submarines for the US Navy, Orca, translated from English as “Orca”, is based on Boeing’s more than 50 years of experience in the creation and operation of underwater vehicles. This model is fully autonomous and can operate independently of the main vehicle.

What is known about the boat

“Kosatka” is a new class of autonomous submarines that can “perform long-term critical missions to achieve underwater maritime dominance in changing environments and contested waters,” as the company states.

It is the result of more than a decade of pioneering work to develop a fully autonomous, long-range, high-capacity underwater vehicle that can operate completely independently of the carrier.
Ann Stevens, vice president of Boeing’s maritime and intelligence systems division, adds that this development will be a game changer for the fleet.

In partnership with the Navy, the Orca submarine underwent several sea trials, including maneuvers above and below water. In 2012, Boeing initiated the design and development of the concept submarine Echo Voyager, a precursor to the Orca, which began sea trials in 2017. Echo Voyager has spent more than 10,000 hours at sea and traveled hundreds of nautical miles autonomously.

Orca submarine / Photo: Boeing

Orca submarine / Photo: Boeing

1. Orca is built on a diesel/lithium-ion battery hybrid scheme. After staying under water for a long time, it comes to the surface to be charged with a diesel engine.
2. Its length is 26 meters and its carrying capacity is approximately 9 tons. The length of the section where the payload is placed is 10 meters.
3. Maximum speed is 8 knots (15 kilometers per hour).
4. The submarine is equipped with autonomous navigation systems that enable the execution of missions in neutral waters.
5. The company doesn’t say how long the boat can stay in the water, but implies it’s a long time.

They don’t say exactly how the new technology will be used. Presumably these will be reconnaissance operations, patrols, cargo delivery and the like. There is no mention of the submarine being used as a weapon, so it appears that it will not be carrying explosives to hit the enemy ship and sink it at the right time.