U.S. military tests unmanned ‘Manta Ray’ off Southern California coast

By Yosi Yahoudai
Founder and Managing Partner

A prototype of an uncrewed underwater vehicle (UUV) named Manta Ray completed in-water testing off the coast of Southern California in March, U.S. military officials announced recently.

“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,” Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency program manager for Manta Ray Dr. Kyle Woerner stated in an article posted by the Department of Defense agency Wednesday.

The Manta Ray prototype is seen between test dives off the coast of Southern California. (Northrop Grumman)The Manta Ray prototype is seen between test dives off the coast of Southern California. (Northrop Grumman)

The Northrop Grumman-built vehicle is being developed to provide a new class of “long-duration, long-range, payload-capable UUVs” for maritime operations and will involve the U.S. Navy on its next steps for testing, according to the article.

“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,” Woerner said.

The “fish-shaped drone submarine” can linger at the bottom of the sea for long periods of time without needing to refuel, the New York Post reported. 

The Manta Ray prototype was shipped in subsections from Maryland to Southern California to demonstrate the ease of shipping, assembly and rapid deployment.

About the Author

Yosi Yahoudai is a founder and the managing partner of J&Y. His practice is comprised primarily of cases involving automobile and motorcycle accidents, but he also represents people in premises liability lawsuits, including suits alleging dangerous conditions of public property, third-party criminal conduct, and intentional torts. He also has expertise in cases involving product defects, dog bites, elder abuse, and sexual assault. He earned his Bachelor of Arts from the University of California and is admitted to practice in all California State Courts, and the United States District Court for the Southern District of California. If you have any questions about this article, you can contact Yosi by clicking here.

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