Recently, The Infographics Show posted a slick animated video to YouTube that highights one of the latest ways the US Navy plans on dealing with a larger adversarial fleet in a near-term conflagration. The Manta Ray submersible is an Unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV), also known as an un-crewed underwater vehicle or underwater drone, that is a submersible vehicle which can operate underwater without a human occupant. These vehicles may be further divided into two sub categories: Remotely Operated Underwater Vehicles (ROUVs) and Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs). ROUVs are remotely controlled by a human operator. AUVs, on the other hand, are automated and operate independently of direct human input.

The Manta Ray, which is an example of a Remotely Operated Underwater Vehicle (ROUV), is a sub class of UUVs with the primary purpose of replacing humans for underwater tasks due to difficult underwater conditions. ROUVs are designed to perform educational, industrial or military missions. They are manually controlled by an off-site operator to perform tasks that include surveillance and patrolling. The structure of ROUVs disqualify it from being able to operate autonomously. In addition to a camera, actuators, and sensors, ROUVs often include a “gripper” or something to grasp objects with. This may throw off the weight distribution of the vehicle, requiring manual assistance at all times. Sometimes ROUVs require additional assistance due to the importance of the task being performed. For instance, the US Navy developed a Submarine Rescue Diving Recompression System (SRDRS) that can save up to 16 people up to 2000 feet underwater at a time. Such a large vehicle with the primary role of saving lives requires an operator(s) to be present during its mission.

Produced by Northrop Grumman as part of a US Navy project to develop long-range underwater weapons, Manta Ray is a sophisticated underwater drone capable of hibernating on the sea floor for “very long periods” without refueling. In May 2024, Northrop Grumman unveiled the submersible, which was developed for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). Modeled after an actual oceanic creature, the drone underwent four years of development to mimic the movements of a real Manta Ray. The product is engineered for extended-duration and long-range military operations with minimal human intervention. Additionally, it features the capability to harness energy from the ocean. Manta Ray successfully completed full-scale at-sea trials off the coast of Southern California in February and March 2024. According to DARPA, Manta Ray demonstrates a first-of-its-kind capability for an extra-large UUV due to its “cross-country modular transportation, in-field assembly, and subsequent deployment.”

That being said, if you think all of this futuristic stuff lies in the realm of the fanciful instead of the real world, I would suggest you think again. Last month, the New York Post both obtained and posted an overhead photograph of the Manta Ray docked at Port Hueneme naval base in California. Clearly the Manta Ray has already reached operational status. Its likely that it will be painted either a dark blue or black to further conceal its whereabouts particularly if it needs to surface for repair or conduct communications with its remote operator.

While the recently conducted RIMPAC exercises held off the shores of Hawaii made no mention of either the testing or integration of the vessel in its massive multi-day wargaming scenario, its a good bet that it was quietly undergoing sea trials along with other UUVs that are designed to bring parity between the smaller US-led naval forces and those of the Peoples Liberation Army Navy (PLAN).