In a major step forward for undersea warfare, the US Navy has successfully tested a new way to launch and recover a robotic submarine, called the Yellow Moray, directly from the USS Delaware’s torpedo tube.
This marks the first-ever operational use of a robotic Unmanned Underwater Vehicle (UUV) launched and recovered this way during an overseas deployment.
World’s first reusable spy robot for submarines
The mission was carried out in the US European Command (EUCOM) area of operations and involved the Virginia-class nuclear attack submarine USS Delaware (SSN 791).
This successful test showcases a significant leap in how submarines can quietly extend their capabilities using robotic systems without risking the lives of divers or crew members.
The Yellow Moray is based on the REMUS 600, a proven type of UUV used for underwater missions such as seafloor mapping, mine detection, and intelligence gathering.
It’s a long, torpedo-shaped robot that can be programmed to carry out missions autonomously, which means that once launched, it operates without human control.
During this deployment, USS Delaware launched and recovered the same Yellow Moray robot three times, with each mission lasting between 6 and 10 hours.
All operations were performed using the submarine’s torpedo tube, a traditional launch system for torpedoes.
This was a major success, proving that the Navy can use the same UUV multiple times in one deployment.
It also allows the Navy to operate without requiring divers to assist with launching or recovery, and expand submarine missions into areas too shallow or dangerous for the submarine.
Spy and return in secret
This mission
shows
that the US Navy is ready to combine manned submarines with robotic systems in real-world operations.
These robotic vehicles can access places that are risky or impossible for submarines to go, and they can do missions that are too dull or dangerous for humans, such as scanning the seabed for mines, conducting surveillance, or scouting enemy waters.
“This capability allows us to
extend
our reach,” said Vice Admiral Rob Gaucher, Commander of Submarine Forces.
“The Yellow Moray reduces risk to our submarines and divers by handling dull, dirty, and dangerous missions.”
The first test wasn’t perfect. In February, during early trials in a Norwegian fjord, the Yellow Moray failed to return to the torpedo tube after several tries.
Technicians later found a damaged part, so the Navy returned the robot to the US for repairs.
Rather than delay the mission, the team
adapted
quickly. The robot was fixed, flown back to Europe, and successfully launched and recovered from the USS Delaware in later missions.
In another first, Navy divers loaded the robot into the submarine via the torpedo tube while docked in Norway, proving that future operations could remain flexible and mobile.
The Navy plans to equip more submarines with robotic and autonomous systems like the Yellow Moray.
These tools will play a key role in future undersea missions, giving commanders more options while reducing risk to sailors.
The success of this mission confirms that the future of submarine warfare is not just underwater; it’s also robotic.