Image source: topwar.ru
Naval forces of the United States aimed at improving unmanned air vehicles, capable of operating under water and to solve a wide spectrum of tasks. Thus, the Navy claim that the emergence of at least five large robotic submersibles that could perform multiple functions under water.
However, the desired and the real are distinguished: the work is behind schedule by more than three years, and their costs are higher than anticipated initially costs to 242 million dollars. The contractor is Boeing. But this giant of the American defense industry, as it turned out, could not perform the task of construction of underwater vehicles in the originally intended period.
Extra-large unmanned underwater vehicles Orca XLUUV can greatly facilitate the work of the Navy for installing sea mines and the destruction of surface and underwater objects of the enemy. Some us military analysts say the device is a single-ended US response to Russian "Poseidon."
Now the fleet has problems with implementation of the contract, there is some miscalculation. At least this interpretation in the United States Navy. The contractor planned to put the first device to December 2020, and to complete deliveries by the end of 2022. But it failed to do so. Now the timing of deliveries moved up to 2024. However, the experimental sample in the Navy is still enrolled. Now sailors to study it, trying to determine what else needs to be improved.
Despite the fact that the XLUUV is considered as the prototype, the Navy is going to quickly display apparatus on a level that they can be quickly put into service. Command of the fleet believes that underwater vehicles of this type are critical to meet the needs of the U.S. Navy.
But it all depends on the contractor's problems: first, he could not in time to do the work because of the pandemic coronavirus and the related restrictions, and then there was technical difficulties. Finally, much depends on funding. As it turned out, the project will cost significantly more than originally anticipated. But in the Navy, apparently ready to significant expenses.
Improving the combat power of the American Navy is regarded as one of the priority tasks of the national defense strategy, especially in the context of confrontation with China in the Asia-Pacific region. Therefore, the money for the project of the United States, of course, will find, but the timing of commissioning of underwater vehicles have markedly shifted and it is possible that a little more.