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A Manta Ray prototype uncrewed underwater vehicle has completed full-scale, in-water testing in the United States, as it heads towards real-world operational deployment.
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The Manta Ray, overseen by research and development group Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), demonstrated at-sea hydrodynamic performance off the coast of Southern California in February and March 2024.
The uncrewed underwater vehicle is designed as a long-duration, long-range, payload-capable system for persistent operations in the maritime environment.
Testing included submerged operations using all the vehicle’s modes of propulsion and steering, utilising buoyancy, propellers, and control surfaces.
“Our successful, full-scale Manta Ray testing validates the vehicle’s readiness to advance toward real-world operations after being rapidly assembled in the field from modular subsections,” said Dr Kyle Woerner, DARPA program manager for Manta Ray.
“The combination of cross-country modular transportation, in-field assembly, and subsequent deployment demonstrates a first-of-kind capability for an extra-large UUV.”
The prototype was originally built by Northrop Grumman and shipped in subsections from the build location in Maryland to its test location in California.
The speedy shipping and assembly process is expected to encourage potential rapid deployment internationally without crowding valuable pier space at naval facilities.
“Shipping the vehicle directly to its intended area of operation conserves energy that the vehicle would otherwise expend during transit,” said Woerner.
“Once deployed, the vehicle uses efficient, buoyancy-driven gliding to move through the water. The craft is designed with several payload bays of multiple sizes and types to enable a wide variety of naval mission sets.”
Northrop Grumman has detailed information that the full-scale, extra-large glider demonstration vehicle will have advanced autonomous features without the need for on-site human logistics, have an energy-saving ability to anchor to the seafloor and hibernate in a low-power state as well as a modular design for easy shipment in five standard shipping containers to support international expeditionary deployment.
In April this year, the company announced it had completed assembly of a full-size uncrewed underwater vehicle prototype.
“DARPA’s Manta Ray program has made significant breakthroughs towards enabling payload-capable autonomous underwater vehicles to operate independently of crewed vessels or support infrastructure,” Woerner said in 2021.
“By investing in diverse solutions, DARPA strengthens our ability to transition innovative undersea technologies to our national security partners.
“Manta Ray is uniquely positioning itself to simultaneously introduce a new class of underwater vehicle while contributing key component technologies to other vital undersea programs.”
