The first time the world caught a glimpse of the latest prototype submarine, it was an eagle-eyed Google Maps user who spotted the secretive underwater drone.
Satellite images showed Northrop Grumman’s Manta Ray’s distinctive silhouette docked at Port Hueneme naval base in California.
The aquatic drone – which takes its name from the sea creature that inspired its design – is capable of diving deep beneath the waves.
The Manta Ray is one of the latest Western developments in what has become a race between the US and Russia to take drone warfare to the next level.
Flying drones first started revolutionising how unmanned aerial vehicles were being used in combat in Ukraine’s fight against the Russian invasion.
Cheap, consumer drones would be modified to drop grenades through the hatches of multi million dollar tanks.
Uncrewed naval vessels were then used to devastating effect by Kyiv’s armed forces to push Russia’s famed Black Sea Fleet back to its home ports.
It is only natural that now the most advanced navies in the world are exploring how unmanned submarines could be the next development in the race to dominate undersea warfare.
Both of the United States’ main adversaries – Russia and China – are developing their own submarine drones.
Moscow has boasted of plans to acquire 30 of its Poseidon drones – a torpedo-shaped robotic mini-submarine that Russia claims can hit speeds of 100 knots.
Russian sources also claim its nuclear propulsion system would give it a range of 6,200 miles, while it is also said to be capable of carrying a nuclear warhead.
China has also been building up its fleet of uncrewed sea vessels, including submarine varieties.
Keeping up with China and Russia
Given the rogue states’ perceived threat to critical underwater infrastructure, keeping up with them is seen as a key endeavour for the West.
The concerns have been fuelled by mysterious acts of alleged sabotage to underwater cables and the Nord Steam gas pipes, which carried fuel from Russia to Europe.
“Unmanned systems have an enormous potential to multiply our combat power,” Admiral Lisa Franchetti, chief of naval operations, told a conference earlier this year.
Unlike the Russian undersea drones, the ones being tested by the US are currently not armed.
Intelligence gathering
Manta Ray is likely going to be focused on intelligence gathering and deterring threats to undersea infrastructure.
It is part of a US project to develop a submarine drone that can stay beneath the waves for long periods of time on the hunt for Russian or Chinese submarines.
The Manta Ray is said to be capable of anchoring itself on the sea floor and “hibernating” in a low-power mode.
Its manufacturer also claims it has the ability to travel more than 10,000 nautical miles while carrying a 10 ton payload.
One of the perks of undersea sabotage for bad actors is that it’s incredibly hard to detect.
This poses challenges in itself, such as creating crafts that are capable of maintaining communications contact with the surface.
A similar system being developed by BAE Systems – the Herne – is being tested off the coast of Britain.
Resembling more closely a conventional submarine, the tubular, 40ft vessel has been trialled as a hunter-gatherer of intelligence.
On one trial, it correctly identified two UK naval vessels at sea level before stealthily slipping back under the waves undetected.
With Britain’s Royal Navy considerably shrunken compared to its glory days as the ruler of the seas, unmanned vessels are expected to play a large role as a force multiplier.
