Manta Ray: The US's newest Sea Devil tested for future combat

Reminiscent of the B-21 Raider bomber – this is how the New Atlas portal describes the new US unmanned maritime vessel. Manta Ray, also known as the "sea devil" (a name derived from the fish it resembles), has just undergone underwater tests. What is known about this construction?

“The full-scale tests of Manta Ray confirm the vehicle's readiness to adapt to real operations after being quickly assembled on site,” said Kyle Woerner, the project manager associated with the unmanned vessel, about the successfully completed tests of the "sea devil".

It draws attention to the fact that Manta Ray is easy to assemble. The equipment was transported in pieces to the test site and then assembled into a whole. This advantage allows for the rapid deployment of the machine anywhere in the world in situations of threat and the necessity of its use in a combat mission.

During the recent trials, the manufacturer conducted drone diving operations. These primarily accounted for the efficiency of the propulsion, the overall buoyancy, and all the unmanned undersea vehicle systems essential for its proper functioning. Although the latest trials have shown that the unmanned vessel is ready to conduct operations in scenarios not defined, the manufacturers, DARPA and Northrop Grumman, announced that this is not the end of the tests.

The Defense Romania portal notes that although the "sea devil" is now functional, the complete technical specifications have not yet been made public and remain a secret. According to American sources, Manta Ray is intended primarily for intelligence operations. This is thanks to its design, which makes the drone difficult to detect. Additionally, the unmanned vessel will be capable of carrying weapons, but its potential arsenal and payload are unknown.

In publicly available photos of the "sea devil", analysts from the Dronele.ro portal spotted two propulsion propellers at the back of the construction. Moreover, it is known that engineers have developed for Manta Ray “energy harvesting technology that is capable of powering the drone over virtually unlimited distances and duration.”

It is unclear how vast these distances can be covered by the unmanned vessel and how long it can remain in motion. It is also unknown what this energy-saving technology precisely entails. However, Northrop Grumman believes that the Manta Ray unmanned vessel can anchor to the ocean floor and "hibernate" in one spot, all the while consuming very little energy.