Top-secret US aquatic drone weapon ‘Manta Ray’ spotted on Google Maps for all to see
A top-secret US submarine prototype weapon called “Manta Ray” has been spotted by eagle-eyed Google Maps users and remains plainly visible to the internet public.
Satellite photos showing the “Star Wars”-looking vessel docked at Port Hueneme naval base in California went viral Sunday, its unmistakable profile standing out in stark contrast to its dockmates.
The smooth-lookingꦓ autonomous vessel was named after the sea creature for its slick design and its ability to ♌anchor itself deep underwater while operating in low-power mode.
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.
It uses🌠 “efficient, buoyancy-driven gliding to move through the water,” Dr. Kyle Woerner, Manta Ray program manager at the Defen🉐se Advanced Research Projects Agency,
“Our successful, full-scale Manta Ray testing validates the vehicle’s readiness to♛ advance toward real-world operations,” Woerner added.
“The craft is designed with several payload bays of multiple sizes and types to enable a wide variety o🐠f naval mission sets.”
Its modular design enables it to be disassembled and transported in ordinary shipping containers, eliminating the necessity for dꦉedicated port facilit📖ies.
The Navy spent more than three months testing the cr🐻aft off the coast of Southern California, th༺e Telegraph reported.
Defense analysts suspect the Navy’s push to develop drone technology is intended as a strategic counter to Russian and Chinese submarine operations, the outlet said.
Russians have been developing underwater drones of their own, and last year announced plans 💝to acquire nearly three dozen such vessels.
The US adversary claims its drone has a range of about 6,200 miles, can be armed with nukes and can reach speeds of up to 100 knots — about 115 mph.