Lockheed Martin to Develop Extra-large Underwater Drone

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has awarded Lockheed Martin a contract worth $12.3 million for phase one of the Manta Ray program.

The contract funds research, development and demonstration of an extra-large Unmanned Undersea Vehicle (UUV).

The Manta Ray program seeks to demonstrate critical technologies for a new class of long duration, long-range, payload-capable UUVs. If successful, this new class of UUV will give the combatant commander an amplification of capacity without disrupting current operations by remaining independent of manned vessels and ports once deployed, DARPA said.

The contract is expected to be completed by January of next year. Research and development funds in the amount of $1.15 million are obligated at the time of the award.