Massive underwater drone skates off California coast
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A Manta Ray prototype undergoes testing off California in early 2024. Photo: Northrop Grumman
An animal-like uncrewed underwater vehicle dubbed Manta Ray can be seen maneuvering off the California coast in new footage captured during testing.
Why it matters: Sea drones are reshaping naval combat — especially in Eastern Europe, where Ukrainian forces are sinking prized Russian ships using far smaller and cheaper tech.
Zoom in: The Manta Ray's almond-shaped body, rounded nose, horizontal fins and vertical tail can be spotted in the 360-degree video shared by maker Northrop Grumman.
- While its dimensions are not publicly discussed, the UUV is considered "extra large" in military parlance. It dwarfs nearby people and boats.
- The drone is modular, meaning it is easily taken apart and reassembled in the field. The Manta Ray prototype was shipped cross-country in pieces for at-sea assessments earlier this year.
- The vessel glides through the water, dips below the waves and resurfaces in the clip. Little wake is seen.
Catch up quick: The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency in 2020 launched the Manta Ray program to develop undersea machinery capable of working extended hours and traveling extreme distances with minimal human contact.
- The agency later tapped Northrop and PacMar Technologies to design preliminary versions.
- Northrop teased its completed prototype during the Sea-Air-Space defense conference in National Harbor, Maryland. Images shared at the time were spartan.
- Evaluations in February and March revealed "no leaks or ground faults or other build issues," an engineer with the defense contractor told C4ISRNET.
The big picture: The U.S. Navy is banking on uncrewed systems to reduce logistical demands, boost surveillance and augment firepower for sailors and Marines.
- A service strategy known as the Navigation Plan featured an outline of a fleet comprising approximately 373 crewed ships and 150 uncrewed vessels.
What's next: Additional Manta Ray trials are expected, as is a dialogue between the Navy and DARPA.
