DARPA’s Manta Ray Drone Clears Ocean Test as U.S. Defense Tech Push Widens
DARPA’s Manta Ray autonomous undersea drone has completed its first ocean test off California.
The agency said the large submersible demonstrated multiple propulsion and steering modes during the trial. The vehicle is several times larger than a small lifeboat and is part of a five-year effort to extend how long uncrewed systems can operate underwater. The program aims to use ocean movement as a power source, a step that could reduce dependence on frequent recovery, recharging or battery replacement.
The test comes as the Pentagon accelerates autonomous systems across air, sea, undersea and space domains. Long-endurance submersible drones could help search for Chinese or Russian submarines, a mission that demands persistence over wide areas and in difficult operating conditions. The Manta Ray milestone does not amount to field deployment, but it shows progress toward an undersea drone designed for endurance rather than short-duration sorties.
The broader defense technology agenda is also sharpening in orbit. A senior U.S. space defense official told lawmakers that a Russian nuclear device detonated in space, at the right magnitude and location, could make low-Earth orbit unusable for a period. The warning followed a U.S. assessment that Russia is developing a new satellite carrying a nuclear device, raising concern about the resilience of satellites that support military communications, navigation, surveillance and commercial activity.
U.S. launch capacity remains another pressure point. The Air Force’s top acquisition official has urged United Launch Alliance, the Lockheed Martin-Boeing joint venture that competes with SpaceX, to move faster. The gap is stark: ULA conducted three national-security-related launches last year, while SpaceX conducted 96 launches, underscoring how speed and launch cadence have become strategic advantages.
Other military programs are also moving. The Marine Corps, Navy and Air Force have resumed V-22 Osprey operations after the Pentagon lifted a grounding tied to a crash, though the exact cause remains under investigation. Program officials are also pursuing cockpit and software upgrades intended to keep the tiltrotor fleet flying into the 2060s.
The United States also announced sanctions on nearly 300 Russian officials and entities after alleging that Russian forces used chloropicrin in Ukraine, including reported incidents involving the World War I-era chemical agent. Washington said the chemical’s use appeared aimed at forcing Ukrainian troops from fortified positions and gaining tactical advantage. Separately, three people were sanctioned over their alleged role in the death of Russian opposition leader Aleksey Navalny while he was held at a far northern penal colony.
Uncrewed systems remain central in active operations. U.S. forces reported intercepting UAVs over the Red Sea, destroying a Houthi UAV headed toward U.S. Navy ships and eliminating an uncrewed surface vessel. The same period saw Houthi forces fire anti-ship ballistic missiles and UAVs toward a Malta-flagged, Greece-owned vessel, with initial reports indicating no injuries.
Australia is also pursuing a major naval expansion, with plans to double its fleet under scrutiny over funding, manpower, schedule and acquisition risk. The Manta Ray test points to the same broader shift facing allied navies: future maritime power will rely less on single platforms and more on persistent networks of crewed and uncrewed systems. If the technology matures, commanders could gain a longer-lasting way to monitor submarine activity without relying solely on ships, aircraft or today’s shorter-range undersea drones.