Giant “Manta” drone spotted at US Navy base on Google Earth

The US military's giant drone, Manta Ray, has been spotted on Google Earth at a naval base in California.

Satellite images show the drone flying over Ventura County Naval Base in Oxnard, near Los Angeles.

Drone footage captured during water tests earlier this year was also recently shared on YouTube by manufacturer Northrop Grumman.

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) announced in May that an unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) completed “full-scale” testing off the coast of Southern California in February and March.

The new footage allows viewers to take a “360-degree dive” with the vehicle, offering a glimpse into its rounded shape and maneuverability.

The second video posted by the company also shows off the drone's propulsion system.

“Equipped with an array of buoyancy engines that work efficiently together, Manta Ray is capable of sustained operation for extended periods of time, covering long distances at multiple depths,” the company says in a second video.

“It can also be secured to the seabed and hibernated until needed,” he adds.

The Manta Ray's dimensions have not been disclosed, but Northrop Grumman classifies the drone as a “very large glider UUV.”

Manta Ray, courtesy of Northrop Grumman

The Manta Ray program, launched in 2020, aims to develop an autonomous, payload-capable UUV that can operate on “long-duration, long-range missions in marine environments.”

According to its makers, the drone's unique shape will help conserve power and energy and carry “critical payloads and sensors” on long missions.

“The successful completion of Manta Ray's full-scale testing demonstrates its readiness to be rapidly assembled in the field from modular subsections and then move forward into real-world operations,” Kyle Warner, DARPA program manager for Manta Ray, said after the test.

“The combination of cross-country modular transport, on-site assembly and subsequent deployment demonstrates a first-of-its-kind capability for an extremely large UUV,” he added.

DARPA says it's now working on the next steps toward testing the drones.

Manta. Courtesy of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency.

Maritime drones have redefined traditional naval warfare in recent years, with their use in the Russia-Ukraine war receiving widespread media attention.

This relatively inexpensive technology has been a major blow to Ukraine against Russian warships, including the Sergey Kotov patrol vessel and the Ivanovets corvette.

Ukraine has also used maritime drones to attack critical infrastructure such as the Kerch Bridge, which Russian President Vladimir Putin views as a vital link between mainland Russia and the Crimean peninsula, which Russia annexed from Ukraine in 2014.

The UK Ministry of Defence said the threat to the Kerch bridge appeared to be so great that Russia had begun deploying barges and other defensive installations in the area to reduce “the angle of approach for Ukrainian drones”.

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