K4 MANTA
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Descripción general
Kraken's foiling surface-subsurface drone boat that can submerge to hide, developed for U.S. special forces.
K4 MANTA is an uncrewed surface-subsurface vessel from the UK's Kraken Technology Group that can race along on hydrofoils and then submerge to avoid detection. Its carbon hull is shaped to reduce visual, acoustic, radar, and thermal signatures, and a deployable mast raises sensors when needed. Versions range from 18 ft, quoted at about 30 knots and a week of endurance, up to 54 ft craft carrying several tonnes of payload such as sensors, sonobuoys, seabed sensors, or launched drones. In 2025 U.S. Special Operations Command awarded Kraken a $49 million agreement to develop K4 MANTA prototypes, which were demonstrated at SOF Week 2026.
Roles principales
Notas
Reported in lengths from 18 ft to 54 ft; the 18 ft version is quoted at 7 days endurance, 100 kg payload, and 30 kn, while larger versions reach about 10 days and 5,000 kg. Foiling carbon hull with low visual, acoustic, radar, and thermal signatures and a deployable sensor mast. USSOCOM awarded Kraken a US$49 million OTA agreement in 2025.
