Chinese scientists are developing a cutting-edge flying submarine concept vehicle in addition to its current arsenal. It is a flying torpedo or mini-drone that flies and swims towards a target.
China's New Vessel Surpasses US Navy Concept
The South China Morning Post (SCMP) on August 8 claimed that a research team from Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics in eastern China had built and tested a prototype submersible drone able to fly through the air quickly.
Researchers say the drone can do both civilian and military purposes, like inspecting underwater mines. The unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) has four propellers and two slanted at the front. It can follow an underwater target slowly and maintain its position for long periods.
It features two large wings which fold over its back as it glides below. That offers the drone a sleek underwater form that reduces drag and enhances maneuverability, reported EurAsian Times.
Whenever the vehicle breaks the water surface, the wing extent enables a glide over the water traveling at 120 km/hr.
The project's principal scientist, Ang Haisong, claims he published a manuscript in a peer-reviewed journal in June. He stated that when in fixed-wing mode, which allows for long-range aerial attack, it consumes less energy, noted Interesting Engineering.
Chinese scientists created two scaled-down prototypes with a roughly two-meter wingspan. The key to creating a flying submarine concept vehicle that can fly is for the researchers to figure out a way to enable the UUV to take off from the ocean.
To solve this problem, Ang and his colleagues devised an intelligent control system that allows the submersible to glide over the waves while producing enough lift for flight.
Equipped with an airbag on its underside that can be flooded to adjust the buoyancy so that it can maintain a certain depth without making noise with its propellers.
It has an airbag on the underside that can be filled to regulate the buoyancy, allowing it to maintain a specific depth without producing noise with its propellers.
Futuristic Submersible Aircrafts
The outlet cited an unnamed researcher from Northwestern Polytechnical University focusing on related technology. China is developing a handful of flying submarines classified as transmedia vessels. Ang stated that most hybrid transmedia vessels are for war and capable of supersonic airspeeds.
Ji Wanfeng, a professor at the Naval Aviation University in Yantai, Shandong province, claims that these hybrid ships are practical and affordable weaponry to counter the danger posed by aircraft carriers. He and his colleagues believe modern warships' multilevel defense systems can shoot down roughly 50% of new attacks such as planes, missiles, or traditional drones.
An aero-sub capable of flying and diving into the water could evade and confuse a carrier group's defenses. Diving below when locked on, and surface to resume a jostling attack on a surface combatant.
A number of them might cause a warship's computer to become confused during combat. Ang went on to say that a flying sub is more likely to survive if it can fly at 150 km/h. Chinese scientists remarked that a flying submarine concept vehicle is a good addition as a combat system, added to the PLA Navy.
