Northrop Grumman unveils Manta Ray UUV
The Manta Ray programme has been developing UUVs which will be expected to be autonomous and able to operate in environments where humans cannot go. (Photo: Northrop Grumman)
The uncrewed underwater vehicle (UUV) prototype was built through a programme by the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency (DARPA) and assembled in Northrop Grumman’s Annapolis facility.
A prototype of a Manta Ray-class vessel, part of a new class of UUVs developed to be energy-saving and able to anchor at the seafloor to rest in a low-power state, has been unveiled by Northrop Grumman.
According to the US defence company, the extra-large glider will be able to carry out tasks for long durations and ranges, as well as be equipped for payload-capable undersea missions.
DARPA stated that the UUV would be built as part of the US government agency’s Manta Ray programme, which has been exploring uncrewed systems that could enable traditional host vessels to operate with more flexibility and freedom.
Related Articles
DARPA taps Lockheed to design new large UUV
DARPA awards contracts for Phase 2 of Manta Ray programme
The project has included at-sea demonstrations and multiple phases while developing UUVs that remain independent of manned vessels and ports.
In 2020, DARPA approached Lockheed Martin to design an extra-large UUV powered by innovative energy management techniques for the Manta Ray project.
In 2021, DARPA awarded Phase 2 agreements to continue the Manta Ray programme to two prime contractors, Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation and Martin Defense Group, renamed PacMar Technologies. Each company was tasked with building and testing unique full-scale demonstration systems.
According to DARPA, PacMar conducted an in-water splash test with its prototype in 2023, testing the glider’s sensors, hydrodynamic performance and autonomy behaviour.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Naval Warfare
-
![Lessons shaping the next phase of Arleigh Burke production post-Flight IIA]()
Lessons shaping the next phase of Arleigh Burke production post-Flight IIA
The accelerated delivery of the final Flight IIA destroyer, USS Patrick Gallagher, showcases the payoff of years of workforce investment and process reform at Bath Iron Works, with the lessons feeding into Flight III production.
-
![Ukraine war drives ‘minimum deployable capability’ doctrine in uncrewed systems development]()
Ukraine war drives ‘minimum deployable capability’ doctrine in uncrewed systems development
Ukraine’s battlefield has rewritten the rules of uncrewed systems development. For Syos Aerospace, real-time operator feedback, lean serial production and a system-of-systems philosophy are central to its operating model.
-
![Sealift shortfalls set to drive opportunities across NATO navies]()
Sealift shortfalls set to drive opportunities across NATO navies
A new Council on Geostrategy primer warns that NATO cannot defend its own supply lines. As the alliance faces a sealift and logistics escort deficit, a wave of unawarded procurement is beginning to take shape.
-
![AUKUS advance on UUVs contrasts with Virginia-class compromise]()
AUKUS advance on UUVs contrasts with Virginia-class compromise
The AUKUS partnership is accelerating uncrewed undersea capability while its submarine arm inches forward, and Australia’s decision to settle for three in-service Virginia-class boats raises questions about industrial risk, dependency and whether Pillar II may deliver meaningful capability long before Pillar I can.
-
![Peru partnership may serve as a template for South Korean naval exports into South America]()
Peru partnership may serve as a template for South Korean naval exports into South America
With a growing pipeline of naval modernisation programmes in South America, South Korean companies could be set to expand their presence in the region as recent contract wins highlight growing collaboration.
