Newest Manta Ray military maritime drone spotted in the US
The US military's giant Manta Ray maritime drone was spotted on Google Earth at a naval base in California.
Here's What We Know
Satellite images show that the drone is located at the Ventura County Naval Base in Oxnard, near Los Angeles.
The unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) completed "full-scale" tests off the coast of southern California in February and March, the US Department of Defence's Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) announced in May.
Although the Manta Ray is quite large, manufacturer Northrop Grumman classifies it as an "ultra-large UUV airframe".
Launched in 2020, the Manta Ray programme aims to develop payload-lifting, autonomous UUVs that can operate in "long-endurance, long-range ocean missions". According to the manufacturer, the drone's unique shape helps it save power and carry "important payloads or sensors" during long missions.
It is worth noting that in recent years, naval drones have become an impetus for rethinking traditional naval warfare. Their use in the Russian-Ukrainian war has attracted widespread media attention.
Source: Business Insider
