China has tested deep-sea electrohydrostatic equipment capable of cutting submarine cables at a depth of 3,500 m.
Last weekend, China tested a deep-sea electrohydrostatic drive that can be used to cut underwater cables at depths of up to 3,500 m.
Last weekend, China tested a deep-sea electrohydrostatic drive that can be used to cut underwater cables at depths of up to 3,500 m.
On April 11, the Haiyang Dizhi 2 completed its first deep-sea mission of the year. The electrohydrostatic actuator (EHA) combines hydraulics, an electric motor, and a control unit in a single unit, eliminating the need for long and cumbersome external oil pipelines, writes Tom's Hardware.
The device is reportedly designed to be extra-strong to protect against deep-sea pressure and corrosion, allowing it to perform “precise mechanical tasks” at great depths. The technology was previously reported to be advertised as a means “for cutting underwater cables and controlling deep-sea grabs.”
The project is not exclusively destructive in nature, as it has obvious applications in the field of repair and construction of underwater oil and gas pipelines. However, given the global context and current realities, the potential for military or malicious use is obvious. It is reported that several projects of the Chinese underwater initiative have already significantly increased the effectiveness of such tasks.
In 2022, during an offshore pipeline repair, it took crews five hours to “just cut” an 18-inch section of damaged pipe. Within a year, domestic Chinese remotely operated vessels were able to cut pipes up to 38 inches in diameter at a depth of about 600 meters. During one repair, an 8-inch pipe was cut in just 20 minutes. Recent tests extend this capability to depths of at least 3,500 meters.
The news comes as undersea infrastructure has emerged as a new flashpoint in geopolitical machinations. These cables transmit data across the seabed, connecting the world's economies and countries through a sprawling network of fiber-optic lines. Indeed, undersea cables have become the epicenter of controversy in recent years, with Russia considered one of the main antagonists, suspected of monitoring the networks and being present in the areas where transatlantic cables lie.
Earlier this month, it was revealed that the Royal Navy had tracked three Russian submarines near critical underwater infrastructure. Last year, several submarine cables were cut in the Red Sea, and a Russian “shadow fleet” tanker was reported to have dragged an anchor along the seabed for about 90km in an attempt to damage cables in the Baltic Sea.
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