Naval warfare is on the cusp of a new age—an age in which stealth, stamina, and autonomy are more important than ever. And at the forefront of that effort under the waves is the U.S. Navy’s newest high-tech gamble: the Orca Extra-Large Unmanned Undersea Vehicle (XLUUV). This isn’t merely another underwater drone—it’s a strategic reimagining of how America projects power beneath the waves.
With competitors such as Russia advancing their unmanned systems, the Navy is doubling down on unmanned tech to remain ahead. At the heart of the mission is Boeing’s Orca, a cavernous undersea platform that will perform missions too long, too perilous, or too boring for manned submarines. And in the view of Admiral Lisa Franchetti, Chief of Naval Operations, Orca is central to the development of a hybrid fleet—one that combines human talent with machine endurance to overwhelm contested maritime domains.
What Makes the Orca Different
Orca is based on Boeing’s Echo Voyager technology, but on a much bigger scale. At 26 meters in length and with an 8-ton payload capacity, it’s the heavyweight champion of underwater drones. Its hybrid power system will allow it to be out for months at a time, and it can travel more than 6,500 nautical miles without refueling or surfacing—a first in deep-sea operations.
But it’s not all about dimensions. Orca is intelligent. It boasts an extremely sophisticated set of navigation tools—sensors, depth sensors, and seafloor-positioning technology—that enables it to function even in the absence of GPS. In the water, it employs acoustic communications to remain connected; on the surface, it reverts to encrypted satellite links for distant control and information transfers.
Orca’s modularity is another highlight. Imagine it as a sea-based plug-and-play. Its payload bay can be easily adapted for anything from surveillance and mine-hunting to electronic warfare and precision strike. That versatility makes it one of the most flexible unmanned platforms in the Navy’s arsenal—and an ideal test bed for emerging technologies such as AI-driven autonomy and swarm tactics.
A Force Multiplier Below the Waves
The Orca is not intended as a replacement for legacy submarines—it’s designed to augment them. These unmanned drones may be shot from shore, launched from larger ships, or even from civilian ships that have moon pools.
They can then do ISR (intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance), release smaller drones, deliver payloads, or just hang around in contested zones—performing the sort of long-duration work manned subs cannot do as well or with the same level of safety.
And the clock is already ticking. Boeing delivered the initial test vehicle—XLE0—late in 2023. It’s been being tested in Southern California since March 2024. The first operational Orca, XLE-1, started sea trials in mid-2025, with delivery to the Navy likely shortly thereafter. The Navy intends to acquire at least nine of these craft, operated by Unmanned Undersea Vehicles Squadron 3 (UUVRON 3), which will be responsible for training, operations, and integration.
It’s Not Just the U.S. Anymore
The underwater drone competition is international and heating up. Russia’s Poseidon nuclear-powered underwater drone and expanding armada of large autonomous systems demonstrate the same strategic purpose: dominance of the deep sea. These systems erase the distinction between conventional and nuclear capabilities, and are stealthy enough to be difficult to follow and even more difficult to understand.
In disputed territories such as the Arctic seas, this confusion might result in severe misinterpretations. A lot of these crafts resemble science platforms but can have military payloads. It’s a quintessential example of dual-use technology, and it’s causing naval strategists to get spooked.
Legal Waters Remain Murky
While technology hurries forward, international law trails behind. The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) provides some precedent, yet unmanned underwater vehicles are still a gray area when it comes to sovereignty, navigation rights, and rules of engagement. Who is at fault if an Orca-sized drone drifts into a neighboring country’s waters? What if it is mistaken for an enemy threat?
Until such questions are answered, navies aren’t merely designing UUVs—they’re also developing doctrines and countermeasures for a new form of undersea chess game.
A Glimpse of the Future
The Orca XLUUV is not only an underwater drone—it’s a declaration. It marks where the Navy believes undersea combat is headed: toward autonomy, persistence, and modularity. Where stealth is monarch and manning poses a risk, unmanned vessels like Orca provide a safer, more intelligent means for continued global maritime supremacy.
As pressure builds in critical areas and the sea is becoming a strategic theater, look for the Navy’s quiet service to be somewhat louder—and significantly more independent.