What is China's Sea Wing Underwater Drone?
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Beijing, Jan 2: China has recently deployed underwater drones called 'Sea Wing (Haiyi) glider' in the Indian Ocean region. The Sea Wing Glider Drone is used for Naval surveillance. The drone is capable of operating for months under the sea. The Sea Wing Glider Drone is a type of Uncrewed Underwater Vehicle, launched in Dec 2019.
Apart from the Indian ocean region, China has also deployed the Sea Wing Glider Drone in the Arctic Ocean. These drones are also deployed in South China Sea, East China Sea and other waters of the Western Pacific. According to the Chinese, the Sea Wing Glider Drones have been deployed for research and development purposes.
The Sea Wing gliders are known to be launched by China’s specialist survey ships. In Dec 2019, the survey ship Xiangyanghong 06 launched around 12 of the drones into the Eastern Indian Ocean. The one found may be one of these, but it seems unlikely given the ocean currents.
According to the Indian Ministry of Defence, around 14 Sea Wing Glider Drones have been deployed in the Indian Ocean region. Out of these, 12 have been employed for long range missions. With the help of Sea Wing Glider Drone the Chinese are gathering oceanography data in the Indian Ocean region. It gathers information such as salinity, seawater temperature, turbidity, oxygen content, chlorophyll and ocean current changes.
The Sea Wing Glider Drones are capable of carrying acoustic sensors such as Acoustic Doppler Current Profile Sensor, hydrophones and underwater acoustic communication devices. According to the Indian Government, the Chinese might use these drones to listen to Indian Naval communication and might track Indian Naval ships in the Indian Ocean region.
China has been increasing its presence in International waters in the name of research and development. According to India, with this the Chinese are trying to disturb the sovereignty of international waters. This is against the UNCLOS (United Nations convention for the Law of the Sea).