The “Manta Ray,” an unidentified US Navy submerged a drone, recently came to light on Google Maps, piqueing interest before being swiftly removed. This advanced autonomous submarine was spotted near Naval Base San Diego, which is at Port Hueneme, California.
Northrop Grumman intended the Manta Ray for long-term submerged missions. It can hover in low-power mode and remain deep underwater, which makes it extremely useful to the US Navy. The drone sleek design and skills are reminiscent of the sea being it is named after.
Dr. Kyle Woerner, the Manta Ray program manager at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), explained which the unmanned aircraft moves through the water using “efficient, buoyancy-driven floating.” This enables it to rest on the sea floor for a long time.
A key feature of the Manta Ray is its modular design. It has several compartments of different sizes for various missions. This design also lets the drone be taken apart and transported in standard shipping containers, so specialized ports aren’t needed.
“If successful, this novel kind of submerged vehicle will provide leaders more options with no interfering with current operations, as it can work on their own of operated vessels and cities once deployed,” DARPA officials said.
Experts think the US Navy is researching drones to counter Russian and Chinese submarine operations. Russian drones that operate underwater are believed to have a range of approximately 6,200 miles, the ability to carry weapons of mass destruction, and a top speed of 115 mph.
Dr. Kyle determined by highlighting the Manta Ray novel characteristics. “The capacity to transport it across the nation, assemble it in the field, and finally deploy it shows a unique capability for a large submerged drone.”
The brief appearance of the Manta Ray on Google Maps highlighted the cutting-edge advancements in underwater drone technology and the strategic importance of these developments in modern naval warfare.