China Tests Breakthrough Tech For Detecting Submarine In Open Seas

The Chinese has successfully displayed detection of enemy submarines, using advanced communication technology, reported South China Morning Post.

Chinese researchers have announced the successful test of the world's first submarine-detecting device, which utilises next-generation communication technology.

This innovative tera-hertz device has demonstrated the capability to identify minuscule surface vibrations caused by low-frequency sound sources in open seas.

These vibrations measure as small as 10 nanometre, well below the detection limits of current technology.

The significance of this breakthrough lies not only in its ability to locate submarines but also in its potential to gather critical intelligence, including the submarine's noise signature and model.

The researchers have asserted that this technology holds substantial application potential in underwater vessel detection and various other domains.

The project team, affiliated with the National University of Defence Technology, published their findings on 11 August in the Journal of Radars, a Chinese-language peer-reviewed journal.

Terahertz technology, operating in the frequency range between microwave and infrared radiation, has garnered attention as a solution for achieving high data rates and low latency, especially in the context of next-generation communication technology like 6G.

These electromagnetic signals within the terahertz range possess the ability to convey extensive information and collect data about the surrounding environment.

Some Chinese airports, for instance, employ terahertz screening devices to detect concealed illegal items on passengers.

Generating potent terahertz signals was historically challenging, but due to increased investment in 6G technology, researchers in China and other countries have made breakthroughs that facilitate widespread application of this technology.

The latest advancements even suggest that the terahertz submarine detector could be compact enough to mount on a drone, offering advantages such as mobility, cost-effectiveness, and flexible deployment.

The potential for this technology lies in its complementarity with existing submarine detection methods, including magnetic anomaly detectors, microwave radar, or laser systems.

When used alongside these methods, it can provide valuable information for the detection and identification of submarines.

Although the report did not specify the date of the experiment, it noted that the test occurred off the northeastern city of Dalian in the Yellow Sea.

The researchers simulated submarine noise using an artificial sound source and used an extended arm of a research ship to mimic drone flight.

Submarines traveling at high speeds emit significant radiated noise that propagates to the water surface and generates surface vibrations.

However, this disturbance weakens considerably by the time it reaches the surface, making its separation from natural ocean waves previously deemed impossible.

During the test, the terahertz sensor successfully detected man-made ripples with amplitudes ranging from 10 to 100 nanometre, dependent on sea conditions.

The achievement was attributed to both hardware and software innovations, including the ultra-sensitivity of terahertz waves and the development of an algorithm capable of identifying nanometer-sized ripples.

Moreover, the researchers highlighted the potential for this technology in submarine communication.

Submarines may need to establish contact with friendly aircraft during large-scale military operations, encoding messages in surface vibrations too faint for enemy forces to detect.

The results from the sea test indicated that terahertz technology offers high signal resolution for cross-medium communication, addressing a longstanding challenge for naval powers.

The researchers also noted successful experiments using 6G technology for close-range communication between water and air.