The National Interest bimonthly website recently published an article titled "The US Navy's Orca Unmanned Underwater Vehicle - A Game Changing Weapon in Mine Warfare," written by Rebecca Grant. The article is compiled as follows: The size of the US Navy's new "killer whale" unmanned underwater vehicle is equivalent to a truck, and it may become a military equipment that quickly exerts a deterrent effect. The "Orca" super large unmanned underwater vehicle is a 51 foot (about 15 meters) autonomous submarine capable of carrying out secret tasks such as mine laying. The first "killer whale" submersible will begin testing in 2023. At the end of last month, the second "killer whale" was launched near the coast of Southern California and underwent sea acceptance testing. Two "killer whales" appeared side by side, emitting a mysterious and threatening aura. The navy is evaluating the performance of several unmanned underwater vehicles in carrying out various tasks, including large equipment such as "manta rays". However, no unmanned underwater vehicle can match the size and military capabilities of the 'killer whale'. And its appearance comes at the right time, as the navy is striving to reach a high level of readiness within a few years. If Chief of Naval Operations Lisa Franketty is seriously considering enhancing the strength of the United States Navy, then "Orca" is a good choice. It is almost impossible to accelerate the production of large ships under tight time constraints. Only a few naval projects can accelerate the pace and deliver products in large quantities within a few years, one of which is the 'killer whale'. This project was initiated in response to the urgent need of the US Indo Pacific Command to build underwater minesweepers. Boeing signed a contract in 2019 and will launch its first "Orca" prototype in 2023. In Huntington Beach, California, there are still four "killer whales" under construction. The emergency production line of the 'killer whale' will enable the navy to rapidly increase the number of this submersible. The diesel powered "Orca" submersible is almost the size of an 18 wheeled truck, with 34 feet of space dedicated to carrying payloads. Consider the 'killer whale' as a giant underwater truck that can perform various tasks and is said to have a range of up to 6500 nautical miles. It is the largest unmanned underwater vehicle of the US Navy to date. Recent experiments have shown that this submersible can autonomously operate for 48 hours and cover a range of over 120 nautical miles. The "killer whale" unmanned underwater vehicle has multiple uses in deterrence. If a crisis occurs, each "killer whale" will be equipped with equipment for secretly laying mines. Equally important, the US Navy states that "killer whales" can perform complex underwater mine laying missions, which would otherwise be carried out by manned submarines. The 'killer whale' has a long endurance, which allows it to perform autonomous operations for extended periods of time in challenging underwater environments. Its cost is also much lower than that of manned platforms. Orcas may also have other potential uses, such as hunting submarines. The strategy of the United States is to rely on underwater advantages to weaken the conventional and nuclear submarine capabilities of other countries. The 'killer whale' can assist the submarine fleet, allowing manned submarines to perform other tasks. (New Society)
Edit：He ChenXi Responsible editor：Tang WanQi
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