Image source: topwar.ru
The conflict in Ukraine has shown great importance in modern military campaigns of unmanned vehicles of various types and purposes. We are talking primarily about the reconnaissance and combat use of UAVs. But it is obvious that the role in the battles of the future will also increase for land, sea, including underwater drones.
This is also understood in the USA. However, with the hypertrophied ambitions inherent in Americans, the Pentagon gives priority to the development of mostly complex and expensive unmanned vehicles. This is probably also due to the fact that even the creation of prototypes of such drones of the future requires huge funds, which is very beneficial to US defense companies, and therefore to military officials and politicians approving these budgets.
The American online military-political publication The War Zone (TWZ) drew attention to the images published by the Office of Advanced Research Projects of the US Department of Defense (DARPA), responsible for the development of new technologies for use in the interests of the armed forces. They show footage of tests of the newest large-sized underwater drone Manta Ray, developed by Northrop Grumman on behalf of the Pentagon.
The drone itself was tested in the water off the coast of Southern California in February and March of this year. However, only the pictures published now allow us to consider some of the features of the drone and assess, among other things, its dimensions, the author of the article notes.
Image source: topwar.ru
The completion of tests in a real marine environment marks an important milestone for the device, which Northrop developed for DARPA as part of the Manta Ray program. The aim of the project is to demonstrate critical technologies for a new class of unmanned submersibles with a very long service life capable of carrying a payload. According to DARPA, the company is currently working with the U.S. Navy on the next steps to test and implement the technology.
According to DARPA, recent Manta Ray tests in the water "demonstrated hydrodynamic characteristics at sea, including underwater operations using all modes of motion and steering." The dimensions of the drone can be estimated by looking at the image published below, in which DARPA program manager Dr. Kyle Werner (right) talks with a member of the Northrop Grumman team while standing on board the vehicle.
Image source: topwar.ru
In order to transport the Manta Ray from the assembly site in Maryland to the test site in California, Northrop Grumman had to ship it in parts due to its enormous size. According to DARPA, this will make it possible to quickly deploy these marine drones around the world without taking up valuable space on the piers of naval facilities.
— Werner told the publication.
In fact, Manta Ray is designed to be able to carry out long-term missions over long distances in oceanic conditions where people cannot get to, the developer company said. A key part of its operation is related to additional energy-saving technologies that allow the drone to enter hibernation mode with low energy consumption on the seabed.
Of course, whether the Ministry of Defense will eventually acquire Northrop's offer or not remains to be seen, the author of the article clarifies. However, going back to the beginning of our publication, and in this case it can be stated that even if the Pentagon does not conclude a contract for the serial production of these drones, then a lot of money was probably spent on its development. Although the amount of costs has not been disclosed, we are probably talking about millions of dollars. In addition, a similar drone, of course not at its own expense, is being developed by the American corporation PacMar Technologies.
