{"id":51441,"date":"2024-04-09T16:13:48","date_gmt":"2024-04-09T16:13:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2024\/04\/09\/northrop-completes-manta-ray-underwater-drone-prototype\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T18:46:37","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T18:46:37","slug":"northrop-completes-manta-ray-underwater-drone-prototype","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/industry\/techwatch\/2024\/04\/09\/northrop-completes-manta-ray-underwater-drone-prototype\/","title":{"rendered":"Northrop completes Manta Ray underwater drone prototype"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. \u2014 Northrop Grumman said it finished building its prototype of the Manta Ray underwater drone, devised for assignments that demand long hours and extended ranges while minimizing human involvement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Virginia-based defense contractor<\/a> teased a photo of the novel unmanned underwater vehicle, or UUV, on April 8, coinciding with the first day of the Navy League\u2019s Sea-Air-Space conference in Maryland. The image \u2014 darkened along the edges and sporting a sparse backdrop \u2014 shows its glider-like body and a rounded nose. Little can be seen of its tail, and its dimensions are unclear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency in 2020 kicked off the Manta Ray program with the thought of creating a large underwater drone that can operate independently of manned vessels and ports once underway. DARPA later tapped Northrop and PacMar Technologies to design and build preliminary versions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAt Northrop Grumman, we\u2019re creating a new type of unmanned underwater vehicle,\u201d Todd Leavitt<\/a>, a company executive, said in a statement at the time. \u201cOur design can carry large payloads over long distances without the need for maintenance or refueling.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t