Northrop Grumman has completed the development of the first prototype Unmanned Underwater Vehicle (UUV), Manta Ray.

The company is developing the underwater drone as part of the Manta Ray program of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) program of the US Department of Defence, which seeks to develop innovative technologies for a new class of UUVs.

The completion of the prototype’s development was announced by Northrop Grumman itself, publishing the first photo with the completed Manta Ray.

Together with @DARPA & our industry partners, we have built Manta Ray – a new type of uncrewed underwater vehicle. 👀 Manta Ray will operate long-duration, long-range missions in ocean environments, going where humans can't. https://t.co/VbpZrx26Uh #DefiningPossible #SAS2024 pic.twitter.com/2vgJcKWu5W

— Northrop Grumman (@northropgrumman) April 8, 2024

The next step entails tests, which Northrop says will take place by 2024.

According to DARPA’s specifications for the project, Northrop Grumman’s Manta Ray prototype is designed for long-duration, long-range missions in oceanic environments which humans can’t reach, the company says.

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It is not certain that the US Pentagon will ultimately choose Northrop Grumman’s UUV for the Navy, as it is not the only company that has undertaken the development of a prototype underwater drone. PacMar Technologies, formerly known as Martin Defense Group, is also in Phase 1 of DARPA’s program.

The two companies are developing a prototype unmanned underwater vehicle, aiming to win the final contract to build and produce the Manta Ray, which will be able to operate without the support or required logistics oversight from US or possibly allied naval forces.

In particular, “Phase 1” involved design and preliminary testing on issues such as energy management, UUV manufacturing reliability, UAV navigation, and its ability to avoid underwater obstacles, important factors in carrying out long-range and long-endurance missions.

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