- A compact, deep-sea, cable-cutting device, capable of severing the world’s most fortified underwater communication or power lines, has been unveiled by China – and it could shake up global maritime power dynamics.
- The revelation marks the first time any country has officially disclosed that it has such an asset, capable of disrupting critical undersea networks.
In a move that could disrupt crucial undersea communication networks and energy infrastructure worldwide, a Chinese scientific body has unveiled a compact device that can cut cables and power lines located deep in the ocean, reports Interesting Engineering.
Developed by the China Ship Scientific Research Centre (CSSRC) and its State Key Laboratory of Deep-sea Manned Vehicles, the device targets armored cables—made of steel, rubber, and polymer—that carry 95% of global data transmission.
Capable of cutting lines at depths of up to 4,000 meters (13,123 feet), twice the depth of existing subsea communication infrastructure, the tool is designed for integration with China’s advanced crewed and uncrewed submersibles, including the Fendouzhe (Striver) and Haidou series.
Concerns over global security, communication stability
Originally developed for civilian salvage and seabed mining, the tool’s dual-use potential raises concerns for other nations. For instance, cutting cables near strategic chokepoints like Guam—vital to the US military’s second island chain defense strategy—could disrupt global communications signalling a geopolitical crisis, the South China Morning Post reports.
The cutting tool’s design has successfully addressed several significant technical challenges posed by deep-sea conditions, according to the team, led by engineer Hu Haolong, in a peer-reviewed paper published in the Chinese-language journal Mechanical Engineer on February 24.
At 4,000 meters, where water pressure exceeds 400 atmospheres, the device’s titanium alloy shell and oil-compensated seals prevent implosion, even during prolonged use.
Conventional blades are ineffective against steel-reinforced cables. To solve this, Hu and his team created a 150mm (six-inch) diamond-coated grinding wheel spinning at 1,600 rpm, generating enough force to shatter steel while minimizing marine sediment disturbance.
Designed for submersibles with limited power resources, the tool features a one-kilowatt motor and 8:1 gear reducer, balancing torque (six Newton-meters) with efficiency, though prolonged use may cause overheating. Operated by robotic arms in near-zero visibility, the device also incorporates advanced positioning technology to ensure precise alignment.
China’s growing undersea infrastructure
The launch of the device marks a significant step as China expands its presence in undersea infrastructure. Beijing now operates the world’s largest fleet of crewed and uncrewed submersibles, with the capability to access all parts of the world’s oceans.
China’s new cable cutting device, which can be operated from stealthy unmanned platforms, has the potential to exploit strategic bottlenecks without the need to surface. This capability has sparked growing discussions within military research communities, particularly following the destruction of Russia’s seabed natural gas pipeline by unidentified actors during the war with Ukraine.
However, Chinese scientists insist that the tool, which has successfully sliced through 60mm-thick cables in ground trials, is designed to support “marine resource development,” with nations increasingly compelled to shift their focus towards exploiting resources from the seas.
Notwithstanding its intended uses, the new breakthrough will further enable China to enhance its marine resource development capabilities, advance the blue economy, and solidify its status as a maritime powerhouse, all of which are crucial to achieving the nation’s long-term objectives, the scientists noted.
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Source: Interesting Engineering
