China has made a big leap in intelligence gathering that could change how sea battles are fought.
In a hidden spot, scientists have placed an acoustic sensor array on the ocean floor, 1,000 meters (about 3,280 feet) deep. This impressive technology can detect and track an aircraft flying at 5,000 meters above the sea.
This new deep-sea radar could shift the balance in anti-submarine warfare. Traditionally, submarines are vulnerable to aircraft, which can spot them and strike without warning. However, with advancements in radar, submarines might get alerts about nearby planes. If they know the aircraft’s location, they can launch missiles from beneath the waves to counterattack.
No other country currently has technology like this. Usually, sound waves from aircraft bounce back into the sky when they hit the water surface, with only a tiny amount making it underwater. The sound waves that do dive down are further distorted by different water layers, such as temperature differences, saltiness, and moving currents.
This breakthrough not only enhances submarine capabilities but also redefines the dynamics of undersea warfare. As countries invest in advanced technologies, the future of naval battles could look very different.
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Source linkscience, China military, PLA, radar, submarine warfare, acoustic sensor array, seabed-based systems, Chinese Academy of Sciences, anti-submarine warfare, deep-sea radar, satellite network, warships, People's Liberation Army, detection technology, Zhang Bo, sound waves, underwater reconnaissance network, military sensitivity, Acta Acustica, Peng Zhaohui
