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Top-secret US aquatic military vessel spotted on Google Maps
A top-secret submarine prototype has been identified on Google Maps images by sharp-eyed users who spotted its futuristic design and quickly spread the word, the New York Post reported.Photos showing the "Manta Ray" autonomous vessel apparently docked at the Port Hueneme naval base in California went viral Sunday as military and aeronautical buffs gawked at the rare glimpses.
The submarine is named after the marine creature due to its physical similarity and ability to lurk for extended periods deep underwater.
The brainchild of Northrop Grumman, the vessel is part of a wider U.S. Navy project to augment the nation's long-range underwater fleet of unmanned vehicles.
The Manta Ray was tested off the coast of Southern California for several months earlier this year.