Northrop Grumman has built an experienced AUV Manta Ray
Experienced AUV Manta Ray developed by Northrop Grumman
The Pentagon's Advanced Development Agency, with the participation of commercial companies, is engaged in a program to create a promising autonomous uninhabited underwater vehicle coded Manta Ray. One of the participants in the program is Northrop Grumman, and it recently completed the construction of an experienced AUV of its design. In the near future, this product will be tested, during which it will show its characteristics and, possibly, demonstrate its superiority over a competing development.
Program and competition
DARPA launched the Manta Ray program at the turn of 2019-20. Its goal is to create a promising AUV capable of carrying a large payload, remaining at sea for a long time and operating at a great distance from the base. To achieve the required characteristics, it was planned to study and implement a number of new technologies of various kinds.
In March 2020, the Agency announced the start of a competitive development of the future underwater vehicle. Contracts for the creation of preliminary designs were awarded to Northrop Grumman, Navatek (now PacMar Technologies) and Lockheed Martin. In addition, the company Metron Inc. was involved in the program, which was to work on new technologies and components for all competitors.
The first stage of the competition took a little over a year and a half. During this time, program participants shaped the appearance of their Manta Ray variants, determined the range of technologies and solutions used, etc. Also, the first tests of individual units and systems were carried out in test benches and laboratories. In the summer-autumn of 2021, the results of the work carried out were sent to DARPA for analysis and conclusions.
Concept of a promising underwater vehicle from DARPA
On December 20, the Agency announced the results of the work carried out. It considered the AUV projects from Northrop-Grumman and PakMar to be the most successful and worthy of further development. The companies received contracts for the full development of projects with the subsequent construction of experimental equipment. The cost and timing of such work were not reported at that time.
PacMar Technologies was the first to complete the task. In September last year, it completed the construction and launched the AUV of its design for sea testing. First, her product showed general performance characteristics, and then tests began with deeper testing in all operating modes.
New prototype
Northrop Grumman also did not waste time and was engaged in its version of the Manta Ray project. In the recent past, it completed the development of the project and began construction of an experimental underwater vehicle. In addition, it was reported that work on auxiliary systems will continue, which will ensure the full operation of the AUV.
On April 8, 2024, Northrop-Grumman officially announced the completion of construction of the experimental Manta Ray, which will soon be sent for testing. A photograph of the product on land was attached to the press release. Unfortunately, no details of a technical or other nature are provided. The tactical and technical characteristics and capabilities of the AUV remain unknown.
Early Manta Ray concept from Northrop Grumman
In the official press release about the construction of the prototype, the development company again limited itself to only the most general words. It is noted that her Manta Ray belongs to a new class of AUVs, distinguished by their large size and carrying capacity, and also capable of long-term operation without human intervention.
Stingray shaped
Unfortunately, very little is known about the Manta Ray AUV from Northrop Grumman. There is a very general description, as well as only one image. Nevertheless, these data also allow us to consider the new development and determine its main features. It is clear that in the future the development company will publish new data, and with their help it will be possible to supplement the existing picture.
"Scat" from Northrop-Grumman is built in a body with a characteristic streamlined shape, which is why it resembles the fish of the same name, as well as flying-wing aircraft. There is a pronounced central body of elliptical cross-section, to which arrow-shaped console planes are attached on the sides. Also in the only picture you can see some kind of vertical tail for directional stabilization. Part of the visible surface of the AUV differs from the other skin. Perhaps these are load hatch covers or sonar fairings. At the customer's request, the housing must be protected from corrosion and fouling, for which it is necessary to develop new solutions.
The dimensions and weight of the product are unknown. There is no way to even roughly estimate them from a single photo - there are no landmarks or objects for comparison in the frame. Moreover, the angle does not even allow us to determine the proportions of the device and the ratio of length and “wing span”. At the same time, the development company calls Manta Ray a very large and heavy device. Perhaps these characteristics will become known later.
Manta Ray interacts with the bottom station
It is noted that for transportation, the entire underwater complex is disassembled and placed in five standard transport containers. It is obvious that part of the required volumes is occupied by control equipment and other ground-based equipment, but such information also hints at the possible size of the AUV itself.
It is known that the Manta Ray program uses electrical power plants, incl. built using new components and technologies. How energy storage is organized on board the AUV is unknown. In this case, a pair of electric motors with propellers at the ends of the plane is responsible for the movement. It is curious that in recent concepts the device had four motors on the trailing edge.
Probably, the device should reach a speed of no more than a few knots, due to which a high duration and cruising range is achieved. At the same time, the driving characteristics, like others, are not disclosed. To increase the duration of duty at sea, a standby mode is provided. In this case, the Manta will lie on the bottom and go into saving mode with the minimum required energy consumption.
A new control system has been developed for Manta Ray, providing independent navigation, solving problems using a payload, etc. All tasks are performed automatically, but it is possible to communicate with the operator to clarify the task or direct control. The composition of such a control system, for obvious reasons, is not specified. Obviously, it includes navigation aids, sensors and sensors, as well as a control computer.
Experienced AUV Manta Ray from PacMar Technologies, September 2023
The exact range of tasks for Manta Ray has not yet been determined. Accordingly, it is unclear what instruments and devices the AUV will have to carry and what tasks it will be able to solve. Apparently, the device will receive instruments for monitoring the situation and searching for various objects. At the same time, it cannot be ruled out that its large dimensions will make it possible to install light mine and torpedo weapons on it.
Contender for victory
Northrop Grumman has completed development of its version of the Manta Ray AUV, built a prototype and is now preparing it for testing. After the necessary preliminary checks, this product will be transferred to DARPA for further activities as part of the competitive part of the current program.
In the coming months, the Advanced Development Agency will conduct comparative tests of two Stingrays from different developers. It is reported that the technology will have to show its capabilities in the conditions of sea testing grounds, while solving some simple problems. Apparently, at the first stage of such “competitions” only driving characteristics, autonomy and automatic control capabilities will be tested.
Already in 2024-25. DARPA can make its judgment and determine a better design. At the same time, the prospects for the winner of the current competition, as well as for the entire program, remain unknown. Depending on the results achieved, a more successful project may be further developed and become a new model of equipment for the US Navy or other structures. However, the winning project may remain a purely experimental development, but its main solutions and technologies will find application in future AUVs, which, in turn, will go into service.
It takes at least several months to carry out the planned activities. This means that the first results of the Manta Ray program should be expected by the end of this year or later. At the same time, we are talking only about demonstrating technologies and promising solutions. Adapting experimental designs to practical use will also require a lot of time. As a result, a potential customer will be able to receive ready-made AUVs of a new type only in the second half of the decade.
Information