Lamprey: The undersea drone that latches onto a mission by latching onto a ship

Lockheed Martin has developed a specialist drone that sits still and silent far below the surface – ready to wreak havoc with enemy shipping.

But no one will ever see it coming until it's too late.

Detecting roving UAVs is hard enough in the open sea, with any possible contacts often ambiguous or intermittent, but the Lamprey MMAUV, or Multi‑Mission Autonomous Undersea Vehicle, is about to take that to a whole new level.

• Shahed: The Iranian-designed drone that has dominated the war in Ukraine
• Armoured alternatives: If the axe should fall, Ajax isn't the Army's only option
• JF-17: Thunder rolls in for air forces seeking a jet that's low-cost, but capable

Using what Lockheed Martin calls integrated docking anchors, it can attach itself to any surface vessel or submarine, catching an invisible ride to carry its payload right to where it's needed.

It uses the momentum of its ride to recharge its batteries using built-in hydro-generators to ensure it's fully powered when its mission begins.

Once free of its host, the Lamprey MMUAV can deliver its payload and complete its mission.