Navy Signals Need for New Large AUV Class

The Defense Innovation Unit of the Pentagon has issued a call under the Project Description "CAMP – Combat Autonomous Maritime Platform" for deploying large payloads across extended ranges. According to the solicitaion, "current UUV capabilities present limitations in range and payload capacity, hindering the effective deployment of critical resources in certain operational scenarios."

"CAMP" is a project dedicated to the late Richard “Mike” Camp, former Director of Warfare Systems, U.S. Pacific Fleet. Mike Camp was a highly accomplished former career submarine officer and a tireless proponent for the adoption of large uncrewed undersea vehicles (UUVs) into the Fleet.

Today, the he largest UUVs are the Boeing XLUUV and Snakehead LDUUV. The Navy accepted delivery its first Extra Large Unmanned Undersea Vehicle (XLUUV) Test Asset System in December 2023. The Boeing Orca XLUUV, designated XLE0, from the manufacturer Boeing.

The Orca XLUUV is a cutting-edge, autonomous, unmanned diesel-electric submarine with a modular payload section to execute a variety of missions critical to enhancing the Navy’s undersea prowess. Configured to accommodate various payloads, the Orca XLUUV allows for the seamless integration of sensors, communication systems, and other mission-specific components, adapting to the evolving requirements of naval operations. With its long-endurance capability,