Washington. May 28. INTERFAX - USA this summer will begin testing the first prototype of the autonomous uninhabited underwater vehicle (ANPA) Orca, developed by Boeing Corporation, follows from the data of the Command of Naval Systems of the US Navy.
It is planned that during the first sea trials, a 26-meter 80-ton unmanned submarine will pass a mine laying test.
Its modular middle section has a load capacity of eight tons, which can be configured to carry various payloads in accordance with the tasks set. In particular, the underwater vehicle can be involved in setting underwater mines, equipped with a sonar with a synthetic aperture for mapping the ocean floor, perform tasks of underwater reconnaissance, electronic warfare and minesweeping.
In addition, it is planned that in the future, a diesel-electric underwater vehicle capable of reaching speeds of up to 15 km per hour underwater and operating at a depth of 3.3 thousand meters, will be able to launch cruise missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles, as well as hunt enemy submarines using onboard torpedo weapons.
Due to the large size of the vehicles, they will be sent to perform tasks from naval bases, and not transported by submarines.
