US Navy plans stealth robot submarine to deliver underwater firepower

The US Navy is advancing its autonomous undersea warfare capabilities through the Ocean Explorer (OEX) Large Unmanned Underwater Vehicle (LUUV) program, managed by the Office of Naval Research (ONR). The OEX aims to develop a next-generation, ultra-large autonomous submarine capable of long-endurance, ocean-scale missions with modular payload flexibility. Industry proposals are being solicited to design and prototype this robotic submarine, focusing on technical feasibility, mission adaptability, and integration into distributed maritime operations. The initiative emphasizes establishing logistics and support infrastructure for potential squadron-level deployments, with submissions due by October 2025. This effort complements other ongoing US undersea autonomy programs, including the Large Displacement Unmanned Underwater Vehicle (LDUUV) and the Extra Large Unmanned Undersea Vehicle (XLUUV) programs. The LDUUV focuses on modular, long-endurance systems for surveillance and payload delivery, involving companies like Kongsberg and Anduril. Meanwhile, Boeing