Saturday, August 12, 2017

China Deploys Underwater Drones In The South China Sea To Monitor Naval Traffic

A test run of an early version of the Haiyi in 2011, carried out in the western Pacific Ocean. Photo: Chinese Academy of Sciences

CNBC: Beijing is using underwater drones in the South China Sea to show off its might

China has deployed underwater drones in the strategic waterway for scientific purposes, but the technology could be used as a political and military tool
Beijing claims a massive section of the South China Sea that extends roughly 1,000 miles from its southern shores — many other nations dispute those claims

The world's second-largest economy has been deploying disruptive technology that could strengthen its territorial ambitions in the South China Sea.

Late last month, Beijing dropped a dozen underwater drones, also known as unmanned underwater vehicles, in an unspecified location in the international waterway to carry out "scientific observations," state-run media outlet Xinhua reported.

The torpedo-shaped vehicles — called Haiyi, or sea wings in Mandarin — will remain underwater for a month, according to reports. In March, one device hit a depth of 6,329 meters, breaking an earlier record held by a U.S. vessel, Xinhua said.

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WNU Editor: More evidence on the strides that China is making in drone technology.

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