Gadget-in Extremis: Manta Ray prototypes new class of UUV

This is Manta Ray, Northrop Gruman’s newly unveiled “Uncrewed Underwater Vehicle” (UUV), designed for undersea missions without direct human presence – to help “master the deep”.

The company has completed assembly of a full-size prototype at its Annapolis facility, in Maryland.

Described as a new class of UUV, to go where humans can’t, it is like an extra-large glider that can operate long-duration, long-range, underwater missions. Basically – with robust autonomy and vehicle control – to operate independently for a long period of time.

It has been built through a U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) programme. Specifically, this was aimed at advancing technologies to benefit future UUV designs.

It includes techniques to manage energy – with the ability to anchor to the seafloor and hibernate in a low-power state – and features low-power propulsion.

With a payload capacity to support a variety of missions, the design is described as modular. This is both for easy shipment in five standard shipping containers, and to help support “expeditionary deployment and in-field assembly” anywhere in the world.

You can read more about Manta Ray on the Northrop Gruman website, and check out the video below: