The Ukrainian Magura V5 naval drones have proven to be fast, deadly, and cheap.  As we posted last August, Ukrainian naval drones are redefining warfare in the Black Sea; quite an accomplishment for a beleaguered nation that almost wholly lacks a navy.

Recently, Northrop Grumman revealed an underwater drone named the Manta Ray. The drone, built for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). The drone has been under development since 2020. The Manta Ray represents a new class of unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs), that were developed to perform long-duration, long-range military missions with as little human oversight as possible. The craft is also capable of harvesting energy from the ocean.

As described by Axios, the uncrewed underwater vehicle Manta Ray’s almond-shaped body, rounded nose, horizontal fins and vertical tail can be spotted in the 360-degree video shared by maker Northrop Grumman.

• While its dimensions are not publicly discussed, the UUV is considered “extra large” in military parlance. It dwarfs nearby people and boats.
• The drone is modular, meaning it is easily taken apart and reassembled in the field. The Manta Ray prototype was shipped cross-country in pieces for at-sea assessments earlier this year.
• The vessel glides through the water, dips below the waves and resurfaces in the clip. Little wake is seen.

The Manta Ray is sufficiently large that it was spotted by users of Google maps at the Port Hueneme naval base in California.

Which model of naval drone — the Ukrainian Magura 5 or the US Manta Ray — will prove to be more successful? That will, no doubt, depend on the mission and circumstances.

Northrop’s Autonomous ‘Manta Ray’ Drone Completes In-Water Test