-China has developed an indigenous underwater glider ‘Haiyi’. Haiyi means sea wings in mandarin language.
-Underwater glider is an Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (UUV) collecting hydrographic information with potentially significant military application for submarine operations.
-This glider has successfully completed its scientific observation in the Indian Ocean.
-First time China’s indigenous underwater glider was used in this ocean.
-This underwater glider is a part of China’s new underwater surveillance network which helps in tracking enemy vessels more accurately as well as improves navigation and positioning along the maritime Silk Road.
-The system is based on a network of platforms ; surface vessels, underwater gliders, buoys and satellites.
-The Haiyi mission, between December 11 and January 2, was meant to observe the interaction between global climate change and marine conditions. After diving into the Indian Ocean on December 11, 2017, Haiyi obtained 190 pieces of data on its 705-kilometre journey.
-This glider was developed by Chinese Academy of Sciences’ (CAS) Shenyang Institute of Automation.
-According to the Chinese media, the underwater glider was used to monitor the deep-sea environment in vast areas.
-This system can gather information about the underwater environment, particularly water temperature and salinity. These information can be used by Chinese navy to more accurately track and target vessels as well as improve navigation and positioning.
-According to the South China Morning Post, the project is part of an unprecedented military expansion fueled by Beijing’s desire to challenge the United States in the world’s oceans.
India’s concern: China’s new maritime network is a matter of concern for India. However, some expert believes that India has already adopted mission-based deployments at key points in the Indian Ocean and also has a center dedicated to analysis of oceanographic data. So India shouldn’t worry much about China’s new underwater surveillance network.
