Dolphin-M
Odin Dynamics UUV design pitched as a low-cost, mass-producible heavyweight-torpedo-class vehicle.
Development
Capability · Uncrewed systems
Uncrewed undersea vehicles
Autonomous and remotely operated submersibles.
FieldedPart of Uncrewed systems
Input links
2
Here and in 3 below
Assessment
Case for · why it matters
Small and medium UUVs such as HII's REMUS are already in naval service for mine countermeasures and survey, and navies are now funding long-range and extra-large vehicles for ISR and strike: Australia signed an A$1.7B five-year Ghost Shark contract in 2025. Startups pitch cheap, mass-produced vehicles that could make waterways such as the Taiwan Strait costly to cross.
Case against · the skeptic’s view
Large-UUV programs have a poor record: the Navy's Orca XLUUV ran 64% over its cost estimate and at least three years late. Startup range and energy-density claims are largely unverified by independent tests, and early contracts such as Albacore's Navy deal have no disclosed value.
Who builds it4
Fielded1
Limited fielding0
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Prototype0
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Development0
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Research0
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Concept0
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Maturity not yet rated: Deepwater Robotics, Gander Robotics, Skarv Technologies
Placed by each organization's own maturity for this technology; TRL is self-reported or estimated, see confidence.
Breakdown3
- Extra-large autonomous undersea vehiclesSubmarine-sized autonomous vehicles (XLUUV/XL-AUV) for long-range ISR, mine laying and strike, such as Boeing's Orca and Anduril's Ghost Shark.Prototype
- Long-range attritable UUVsLow-cost, mass-producible autonomous underwater vehicles with ranges of hundreds to 1,000+ nautical miles, carrying sensors or one-way kinetic payloads (UUV-torpedo hybrids).Prototype
- UUV energy storageBattery packs and energy systems that set the range and endurance of underwater vehicles, which cannot surface to recharge or use GPS on a mission.Development
Products6
Ghost Shark
Extra-large autonomous undersea vehicle co-developed by Anduril and Australia's Defence for ISR and strike; three prototypes delivered before the 2025 fleet contract.
Prototype
- Production start
- Oct 2025
Orca XLUUV
Boeing extra-large unmanned undersea vehicle for U.S. Navy mine laying, derived from Echo Voyager; five vehicles ordered.
Prototype
- Milestone
- Jun 11, 2025
Photo: U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist William Spears · Public domain (PD-USGov-Military-Navy)
REMUS UUV family
HII family of small to large UUVs (REMUS 130, 300, 620, 6000) used for mine countermeasures, ISR and survey.
Fielded
- Milestone
- Apr 7, 2025
Photo: Photo by MKFI via Wikimedia Commons · Public domain (PD-self)
Inputs it depends on1
Criticality is how much a shortage would constrain production; open an input for producers, concentration and trade controls.
Oct 1, 2026CompanyDefense Innovation Unit, Vatn SystemsVatn Systems Wins Defense Innovation Unit's Mine Countermeasure Modernization Prize ChallengePR NewswireSep 22, 2026Government recordRoyal Navy, UK Ministry of Defence, U.S. NavyU.S. Navy and Royal Navy Successfully Test Fire Torpedo from Unmanned Undersea VehicleU.S. NavySep 16, 2026NewsForcys, Ministério da Defesa Nacional - MarinhaBOMA 2026: Forcys Sentinel detection system used to test Portuguese SOF diversJanes
- Oct 1, 2026CompanyPR NewswireVatn Systems Wins Defense Innovation Unit's Mine Countermeasure Modernization Prize Challenge
- Sep 22, 2026Government recordU.S. NavyU.S. Navy and Royal Navy Successfully Test Fire Torpedo from Unmanned Undersea Vehicle
- Sep 16, 2026NewsJanesBOMA 2026: Forcys Sentinel detection system used to test Portuguese SOF divers
Sources10
Profile6
- 1
DroneXL · Aug 27, 2026 · Supports Technology
“What nobody has said is what the Navy actually bought.”
- 2
WHYY · Aug 25, 2026 · Supports Technology
“If you have enough of these in a waterway, it makes it very difficult to do any island invasions.”
- 3
Industrial Base Alpha (Substack) · Mar 19, 2026 · Supports Technology
“Those are extraordinary claims. They are also unverified by independent test data.”
- 4
Naval News · Sep 10, 2025 · Supports Technology
“The Albanese Government is investing $1.7 billion to acquire a new fleet of Australian‑designed and built extra-large autonomous undersea vehicles – known as the Ghost Shark – for the Royal Australian Navy.”
- 5
Naval News · Sep 28, 2022 · Supports Technology
“The U.S. Navy's Orca Extra Large Unmanned Undersea Vehicle (XLUUV) is 64% over its original cost estimate and at least 3 years late.”
- 6
HII · Supports Technology · technology input:lithium-ion-cells
“Lithium-Ion Battery Options”
Technologies4
- 7CompanyDeepwater Robotics
Deepwater Robotics · Supports Organization technology
“Deepwater Robotics is building a global fleet of thousands of compact autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) that we will operate throughout the world's oceans. Our goal is to provide sub-meter resolution surveys covering the entire ocean once every decade.”
- 8OtherREMUS (vehicle)
Wikipedia · Supports Organization technology, Technology
“A US Navy derivative of this platform designated Mk 18 Mod 2 Kingfish was manufactured from 2012 to 2023.”
- 9
Gander Robotics · Supports Organization technology
“Gander Robotics builds ARVIN, a configurable autonomous underwater vehicle platform for life-saving and dual-use maritime missions. Based in Cambridge, MA.”
- 10
Skarv Technologies · Supports Organization technology
“Skarv Technologies builds autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), subsea cameras, and software for seafloor mapping and inspection, from Trondheim, Norway.”
Each fact on this page is attached to the sources that support it. Archived copies are linked when we keep one.