DARPA's autonomous 'Manta Ray' drone can glide through ocean depths undetected

A full-size prototype of Manta Ray, a new class of uncrewed underwater vehicle, is assembled in Northrop Grumman’s Annapolis facility.

Engineers have assembled an autonomous underwater drone that the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) plans to use for long-range missions in the ocean, pictures show.

Dubbed "Manta Ray," the drone is modeled after filter-feeding fish of the same name with diamond-shaped bodies and wing-like fins. The prototype, designed and built by the aerospace and defense company Northrop Grumman, is an extra-large glider capable of operating long-duration, payloaded missions without needing on-board human support and maintenance.