CHINA DEPLOYING “EN

MASSE” UNDERWATER DRONES

IN INDIAN OCEAN
 REPORT BY HI SUTTON (COVERT SHORES)
China has deployed a fleet of underwater drones called Sea Wing
(Haiyi) glider in the Indian Ocean, which can operate for months on
end and make observations for naval intelligence purposes, according
to defence analyst HI Sutton.
 ABOUT SEA WING (HAIYI) GLIDER
Sea Wing is an unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) developed by
China's Academy of Sciences Institution of Oceanology.

Like other underwater gliders, Sea Wing moves through the water
using a buoyancy compensation system filled with oil.

The glider is used for oceanographic research and has on board

sensors for to measure seawater temperature, salinity, turbidity,
chlorophyll, oxygen content and ocean current changes.
In 2015 Sea Wings were deployed in
the East China Sea, South China Sea
 ABOUT SEA WING (HAIYI) GLIDER
These gliders are unpowered with large wings to glide that can run for
long periods of time, adding that they are not fast or agile, however,
they are employed for long-range missions.
 VERY HIGH NUMBER
According to the report, 14 would be employed in the Indian Ocean
mission.
 TIMING IS SURPRISING
"Taken at face value, it may be surprising that China is now deploying
these types of UUV en masse in the Indian Ocean. China has also
deployed the Sea Wing from an ice breaker in the Arctic," HI Sutton
wrote.
 INTENT IS NOT INNOCUOUS
Furthermore, the defence analyst said these Chinese gliders that are
placed in the Indian Ocean were reportedly gathering oceanography
data, which "sounds innocuous" however, is commonly gathered for
naval intelligence purposes."
 CDS RAWAT
"Of late along with geostrategic competition in the Indo-Pacific, we are
also witnessing a race for strategic places and bases in the Indian Ocean
region which is only going to gain momentum in the times to come,"
General Rawat said.
 CDS RAWAT
He said that based on the challenges that India face, "we require
structured long term planning for capacity building and capability
development of our defence forces.“

“To protect peace, prosperity and sovereignty it is important for us to

keep a sea line of communication secure at all times with a stronghold on
the security dimension of this region,” General Rawat said.
 STAY TUNED…

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