Northrop Grumman Corporation has announced the completion of a new class of uncrewed underwater vehicle (UUV), named Manta Ray, at its Annapolis facility.
This full-size prototype represents a significant advancement in autonomous underwater technology, designed to execute long-duration, long-range missions without the need for human logistics support on site.
The Manta Ray UUV is a product of a Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) programme that focuses on developing innovative technologies for future underwater vehicles.
The company say that these advancements include enhanced energy management systems, increased payload capacity, and low-power propulsion technologies, which are expected to set new benchmarks in the capabilities of uncrewed marine vehicles.
The Manta Ray’s design allows it to operate autonomously for extended periods in the ocean, making it ideal for a variety of applications including maritime monitoring, environmental research, and strategic military operations beneath the ocean’s surface.
For more information about Manta Ray, please click here.
The major issue with such systems just as with MALE drones is that they are just to vulnerable in peace time to being interfered with or captured by a potential foe in international waters. Then you end up loosing a very expensive piece of equipment and all the technology onboard.
I can see that being a different kind of equation in war time however where you want to sink as many things as possible as quickly as possible but then they basically become moving mine fields.
How would a potential foe know where to look for this kit? Oceans tend to be very large places.
Detection equipment is getting better and better. The US has sail drones that bob around collecting hydrographic information for submarine support and the Iranians have ha field day towing them off when the find them.
These look (like most Manta Rays) to spend most of their time underwater so perhaps less visable and I wonder how deep they might go.
Is it me or does that look more UAV than UUV?
Nice bit of multi-domain design if it could do both!
Crikey, now I am having a flash back to Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea.
Thunderbird 2 is GO!
the machine was lost in the last spending review
Haven’t heard anything about Cetus project for a while
Anything about it being weaponised?
MSubs should deliver the XLUUV later this year and then more trials.
The RAN’s first Ghost Shark prototype UUV developed by Arundil broke cover this week. It looks similar to the USN Boeing Orca UUV with a square cross section albeit probably a little smaller. Interestingly the press release (extract below) refers to strike as well as ISR missions. “ Ghost Shark ‘Alpha’ is the first of three prototypes being co-developed by the Defence Science and Technology Group, the Royal Australian Navy and Anduril Australia. Ghost Shark will provide the Royal Australian Navy with a stealthy, long-range autonomous undersea warfare capability that can conduct persistent intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and strike. The Ghost Shark… Read more »
Looks interesting.
Very impressive! ….Until it breaks down & there’s nobody around to fix it.