Top-secret US aquatic drone weapon 'Manta Ray' is spotted on Google Maps

A top-secret US submarine drone weapon called 'Manta Ray' was spotted by hawk-eyed online users on Google Earth on Sunday, and remains visible to the public.

Satellite images showing the vessel docked at Port Hueneme naval base in California went viral on Sunday, before some social media users said the satellite images were removed, and replaced with what people believed were edited boats. 

As it stands, however, satellite images of the vessel can be seen on Google Earth. 

The drone, named after the sea creature due to its diamond-shaped body and wing-like fins, is used for underwater threat detection, was designed by Northrop Grumman Corporation. 

The aerospace group has described the drone as an 'extra-large glider that will operate long-duration, long-range and payload-capable undersea missions without need for on-site human logistics'.

 It has an extended range, long-term deployment and a diverse payload capacity. 

Northrop Grumman also says that due to its modular design, it can be dismantled and transported in standard shipping containers. 

If there were an urgent threat, the vessel is said to be deployed quicker than traditional submersibles.  

Until recently, its pioneering design, which allows it to stay submerged for long periods of time, had been kept secret. 

But when the underwater vessel was released into the sea for testing, and captured on Google Earth over the weekend, internet users were quick to spot the top-secret US drone weapon. 

Just last week, Northrop Grumman revealed more details on its robotic 'Manta Ray' submersible in some newly-released videos. 

Also, last month, Northrop Grumman announced that it had completed full-scale, in-water testing off the coast of Southern California in February and March this year. 

According to the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, testing showed 'at-sea hydrodynamic performance, including submerged operations using all the vehicle’s modes of propulsion and steering: buoyancy, propellers, and control surfaces.'

In these, footage shows a tour of the first test dive and a rundown on the project never-before-seen clips. 

The 'Manta Ray' is part of a US Navy project to develop a new class of underwater drones capable of carrying out much longer missions.   

With the underwater vehicle undergoing recent testing, questions have been raised over the emergence of advanced sea drones in reshaping naval combat, as Ukrainian forces have been using smaller, more affordable technology to sink Russian ships.