Recently, China's rapid progress in the field of marine technology has drawn global attention, especially the introduction of its ultra-large unmanned submarine, which has been seen by the U.S. Navy as a potential "game-changer." According to the website of the U.S. Naval Institute, this unmanned submarine, with its three advantages of "quieter, cheaper, and longer-lasting," may reshape the operational model of future underwater warfare, even rewriting the rules of maritime battles. What makes this "underwater sentinel" so formidable? Let's find out.

The traditional submarine power systems, even if equipped with advanced shock-absorbing valves, are difficult to completely eliminate mechanical vibrations and noise, becoming a "target for anti-submarine sonar." However, China's ultra-large unmanned submarine has completely revolutionized this weakness, adopting a "lithium iron phosphate battery + full electric propulsion" mode, eliminating traditional engines, and eliminating vibrations and noise at the source.

Its noise level is reportedly close to the background noise of the ocean, or even lower, making it a "ghost under the water." This near-perfect stealth capability leaves enemy sonars helpless, possibly allowing China's ultra-large unmanned submarine to gain the upper hand in underwater reconnaissance and ambushes. Imagine, when the opponent can't even detect the target, the initiative of the battle has already quietly changed hands.

Submarines have always been synonymous with "expensive luxury." A conventional submarine on the international market costs tens of millions of dollars, and nuclear submarines are comparable to aircraft carriers. However, the cost of an ultra-large unmanned submarine is as low as tens of millions of dollars, or even just millions of dollars. This cost advantage allows China to mass-produce and deploy unmanned submarines, forming a "wolf pack tactic."

Imagine 30 to 50 ultra-large unmanned submarines lying in wait in a sea area simultaneously, weaving an invisible underwater network, capable of controlling "underwater sea control." Once an enemy submarine enters, it will face a "wolf hunt," with nowhere to hide. This strategy of quantity superiority not only lowers the equipment threshold for the Chinese Navy but also overwhelms the opponent's anti-submarine system.

Human-operated submarines are limited by the physiological and psychological limits of their crew, and even nuclear submarines cannot sustain long-term operations. However, ultra-large unmanned submarines do not need to consider human needs; as long as the battery endurance and mechanical reliability are good, they can patrol continuously for months, even years.

This "underwater sentinel" can lie in wait for a long time in key sea areas, carrying out intelligence gathering, anti-submarine warfare, mine-laying missions, and even acting as "smart torpedoes" in critical moments, delivering their final value with a suicide attack. Its super-long endurance not only extends the combat window but also significantly enhances China's underwater control in strategic locations such as the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait.

The three advantages of China's ultra-large unmanned submarine undoubtedly introduce new variables into underwater warfare. In local seas, such as the South China Sea or the East China Sea, its numerical superiority and stealth capabilities could completely change the tactical landscape, forcing opponents to redesign their anti-submarine strategies. However, "disrupting" the entire underwater battlefield still faces challenges:

First, the low bandwidth and high latency of underwater communication require ultra-large unmanned submarines to have a high degree of autonomy, and the maturity of AI decision-making is crucial.

Second, while ultra-large unmanned submarines have obvious advantages in coastal operations, their endurance and firepower may be difficult to match nuclear submarines in the open ocean.

China's ultra-large unmanned submarine, with its characteristics of silence, low cost, and long endurance, paints a new picture for the future of underwater warfare. It may not completely replace traditional submarines, but it undoubtedly provides the Chinese Navy with an asymmetric warfare weapon. Faced with the rapid countermeasures from the United States and its allies, this underwater technology competition has just begun. In the future, who will win in this deep blue arena may depend on the contest between technological breakthroughs and strategic wisdom.



Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7541681147139326504/

Statement: The article represents the views of the author. Please express your opinion by clicking on the 【like/dislike】 button below.