The Ocean Explorer (OEX) drone is intended to explore how the capabilities of ultra-large autonomous undersea vehicles should be developed and what capabilities they could offer.
The United States Navy remains fully committed to its manned submarines, but it is also putting increased focus on autonomous undersea vehicles as it seeks to expand its “hybrid fleet.” That has included its Large Diameter Unmanned Underwater Vehicle (LDUUV) and the Extra Large Unmanned Undersea Vehicle (XLUUV) programs. This month, the Office of Naval Research (ONR) posted a government notice seeking “potential performers” who could design, build, and test an “Ocean Explorer” (OEX)—an all-electric, ultra-large autonomous undersea vehicle capable of extended autonomous missions without underway refueling.
According to the notice, the OEX would need to be “capable of conducting extended ocean scale missions while carrying a large modular payload.” ONR is calling for innovation in the platforms’ technology, but also in its ability to be rapidly prototyped in terms of its design and eventual fabrication. “Optional” industry days are being held, where more details will be provided to companies that previously applied to take part in the program, where a Secret-level security clearance is required. As such, it is unlikely that further details will be provided about this program at this point, at least not in public.
However, it is understood that the immediate focus is on sustainment, support infrastructure, and how the OEX could integrate into naval operations while extending the US Navy’s reach and reducing the risk to manned assets, such as its nuclear-powered submarines.
ONR didn’t mention the Indo-Pacific or China. Still, the US Navy is already engaged in a de facto arms race with the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) in the development of UUVs.
Last year, defense analyst Brandon Weichert, writing for The National Interest, explained that UUV drone swarms have the potential to be disruptive in naval warfare, similar to the swarms of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in the sky. However, as he noted, UUVs will complement, rather than replace, manned submarines.
“Over time, UUVs may make submarines as obsolete as advanced A2/AD capabilities have made many surface warships. But we are not yet at that point. Developing swarms of UUVs to operate in tandem with manned submarines in combat is the way to go,” Weichert suggested.
The OEX is clearly a part of this effort. So far, at least, ONR is not calling for the development of a platform to replace the Ohio-class or Virginia-class submarines in service with the US Navy. Instead, the Ocean Explorer is intended to explore how the capabilities of ultra-large autonomous undersea vehicles should be developed and what capabilities they could offer.
Last year, the US Navy began testing of the Boeing Orca Extra Large Uncrewed Undersea Vehicle (XLUUV), which was developed to serve in a variety of roles, including mine countermeasures, anti-surface warfare (ASuW), anti-submarine warfare (ASW), electronic warfare (EW), and strike missions. At nearly 51 feet long (15.54 meters) without its payload and 85 feet long (26 meters) with the payload, the Orca is comparable in size to the USS Holland (SS-1), the US Navy’s first modern commissioned submarine, which was just 53 feet long (16.18 meters) and had a complement of nine sailors.
ONR hasn’t stated the exact size of the ultra-large autonomous undersea vehicle, but it is expected to be even larger, and potentially more capable. It could also employ different mission models, further providing greater flexibility. And it won’t even need any sailors to complete its mission.
About the Author: Peter Suciu
Peter Suciu has contributed over 3,200 published pieces to more than four dozen magazines and websites over a thirty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. He is based in Michigan. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: [email protected].
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