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crewed behemoth could put to sea, the technical challenges cur- rently af? icting the Orca XL-UUV would need to be overcome.

Still, the concept is entirely plausible—and such an ambitious leap could draw inspiration from the Navy’s large USV (LUSV), which is also set to bring added VLS muscle to the ? ght.

ONR’s call for UL-AUV designs suggests the U.S. Navy is envisioning a ? eet of undersea platforms that could act as drone motherships, clandestine forward deployed logistics nodes, or autonomous missile barges to counter China’s narrowing of the “VLS Gap.” With the ability to carry dozens of missiles,

UUVs, or strike drones, a VPM-equipped UL-AUV would be a potent tool of power projection on par with an SSGN. Just

Sailors lower a Yellow Moray (REMUS 600) as the presence of a U.S. carrier or SSGN can in? uence adver- unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) into the sary thinking, the credible threat of a heavily-armed UL-AUV water during a UUV exercise in Haakosnsvern could similarly shape strategic outcomes, making it an instru-

Naval Base in Haakonsvern, Norway.

Credit: US Navy/Oliver Cole ment of coercion or escalation management. Its development would likely be fraught with technical, operational, and man-

About the Author power challenges, especially in light of current delays in sub-

David R. Strachan is a defense marine construction and an overstretched shipbuilding work- analyst and founder of Strikepod force. But if successful, it would mark a signi? cant expansion

Systems, a research and strategic of uncrewed undersea assets from tactical/operational sensor advisory focusing on autonomous and effector platforms, to formidable strategic assets capable undersea systems.

of posing signi? cant dilemmas for U.S. adversaries.

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