Futuristic Thunderbirds-style automobile completes testing for undersea missions
A Thunderbirds-style military vehicle designed for underwater missions has completed its testing phase.
A prototype of uncrewed underwater vehicle (UUV) ‘Manta Ray’ has finished in-water testing off the coast of Southern Californian in February and March, the contraption’s manufacture has revealed.
Built through the U.S Department of Defense’s Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) programme, the Manta Ray will be used for long-durations and long-range expeditions although future missions have been announced.
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(Image: Northrop Grumman / SWNS)
Manufacturer Northrop Grumman described the vehicle as a “new class of UUV” that is an “extra-large glider that will operate long-duration, long-range and payload-capable undersea missions without need for on-site human logistics”.
Testing demonstrated at-sea hydrodynamic performance, including submerged operations using all the vehicle’s modes of propulsion and steering: buoyancy, propellers, and control surfaces.
Dr Kyle Woerner, DARPA program manager for Manta Ray said: “Our successful, full-scale Manta Ray testing validates the vehicle’s readiness to advance toward real-world operations after being rapidly assembled in the field from modular subsections.
(Image: Northrop Grumman / SWNS)
“The combination of cross-country modular transportation, in-field assembly, and subsequent deployment demonstrates a first-of-kind capability for an extra-large UUV.”
Northrop Grumman said they shipped the prototype in subsections from the build location in Maryland to its test location in California. The demonstrated ease of shipping and assembly supports the possibility of rapid deployment throughout the world without “crowding valuable pier space at naval facilities”.
Woerner said: ”Shipping the vehicle directly to its intended area of operation conserves energy that the vehicle would otherwise expend during transit.
(Image: Northrop Grumman / SWNS)
“Once deployed, the vehicle uses efficient, buoyancy-driven gliding to move through the water. The craft is designed with several payload bays of multiple sizes and types to enable a wide variety of naval mission sets.”
DARPA say they are engaging with the U.S. Navy on the next steps for testing and transition of this technology.
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