Unmanned 19.8 Ton Strike Submarine ‘Orca’ Can Fire Missiles, Drones & Torpedoes Underwater

Turkish Defence Company, Datum Submarine Technologies, has revealed its new Sinarit XLUUV or Extra Large Uncrewed Undersea Vehicle at the SAHA Expo 2026, held in Istanbul from May 5 to 9.

The strike-capable submarine can launch drones, torpedoes, missiles and mine warfare payloads to tackle underwater threats.

Referred to as the ‘Orca’ by the U.S. Navy, the UUV is an autonomous diesel-electric sub which can conduct missions for months, independently without the need for human presence onboard.

To manufacture this submarine, the company used extensive data from mini-submarines operating in deep and shallow waters.

Features of the Orca Submarine

The UUV is made of interchangeable 3.8 m payload sections, which help it to switch between intelligence gathering, mine countermeasure, strike operations and torpedo missions.

The 19.8 ton submarine can be configured for 12 different mission payloads, including Baykar swarm drone launch systems, Malaman smart bottom mines, Akya and Orka torpedoes, and intelligence-gathering sensors from Aselsan.

It can also integrate the Meteksan synthetic aperture sonar, ROV systems for mine countermeasure missions, Roketsan Atmaca and Cakir anti-ship missiles, Tubitak Gezgin land-attack missiles, and Gokdogan surface-to-air missiles.

It will have a maximum surface speed of 12 knots and submerged speed of 8 knots, and will operate at a depth of around 100 metres.

While submerged, it cannot be detected by radar or a satellite, and since it is designed with a low sonar cross-section, even detecting it using sonar is almost impossible.

Munir Cansin Ozden, PhD, Datum board chairman, said. “Sinarit is an underwater pickup truck. “Whatever payload you put in its 3.8-meter cargo bay, it can secretly carry it to wherever you want underwater.”

The 37.7-foot submarine can be transported in a shipping container or airlifted by an A400M cargo aircraft.