The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has raised eyebrows in recent years over projects like Advanced Plant Technologies (spying plants) and the ReSource Program (which aims to turn garbage into food).
If you’ve never heard of DARPA, it is a research agency of the United States Department of Defense that creates innovative, cutting-edge technology for the US military.
One of DARPA’s latest projects is the Manta Ray Project.
According to the DARPA website, the Manta Ray project aims to “demonstrate innovative technologies that enable payload-capable autonomous unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs) to operate on long-duration, long-range missions in ocean environments without the need for human logistics on site. “
DARPA contacted defense contractor Northrop Grumman to create a prototype of the Manta Ray.
I WAIT:
With @DARPA and our industry partners, we have built Manta Ray, a new type of unmanned underwater vehicle. Manta Ray will operate long-duration, long-range missions in ocean environments, going where humans cannot. https://t.co/VbpZrx26Uh #DefinePossible #SAS2024 pic.twitter.com/2vgJcKWu5W
—Northrop Grumman (@northropgrumman) April 8, 2024
A fish-like robot that #independently wanders around #oceans on long-duration missions, collection #power to fuel his journey: this is the goal of the Manta Ray project. Find out more from @DARPA AND @SandiaLabs in this Voices of DARPA podcast. https://t.co/oKtboC7YpN pic.twitter.com/DYj7Y7lWQg
—DARPA (@DARPA) October 20, 2022
Unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs), also known as sea drones, are not new innovations.
The peculiarity of the Manta Ray drone is that it can undertake “long-duration missions, collecting energy to fuel its journey”.
It also has payload capability, meaning it can carry cargo or launch warheads wherever the U.S. military needs them.
For naval technology:
Northrop Grumman Corporation announced the successful completion of the Manta Ray prototype, an unmanned underwater vehicle designed to conduct long-duration, long-range missions in harsh ocean environments.
Named after the sea creature, Manta Ray represents a breakthrough in Northrop Grumman’s undersea exploration technology, offering autonomous operations without the need for on-site human support.
According to GlobalData’s Thematic Intelligence on Maritime Unmanned Vehicles, Northrop’s expertise in advanced network solutions and platform development led to its participation in the Angler UUV development program for the U.S. Navy along with the Manta Ray program.
Developed as part of a Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) initiative, Manta Ray incorporates technologies to improve power management, increase payload capacity and optimize propulsion efficiency. These advances pave the way for extended undersea missions, making Manta Ray a versatile platform with a variety of applications.
New US-made underwater drone revealed
American weapons manufacturer Northrop Grumman announced that it has completed a prototype of a new long-range unmanned underwater device “Manta Ray”. pic.twitter.com/HHWBNy8Y6E
— The Great Investor (@TheGreatInvest2) April 9, 2024