China has prompted growing concerns in Washington after unveiling a new acoustic detection system capable of tracking submarines in some of the world’s most strategically sensitive waters.
Researchers at Harbin Engineering University have previewed the revolutionary technology which uses low-frequency sound detection to locate submarines at extreme ocean depths.
The advancement could spell the end of US naval dominance as the Asian superpower continues to rapidly modernise its military across land, air and sea.
It also further raises tensions in the Arctic, where China and Russia, both chief adversaries of the US, have worked alongside each other to establish a strategic foothold in the region.
Such cooperation is likely part of the reason for President Donald Trump’s outlandish attempts to annexe both Greenland and Canada to increase US military might in the Arctic.
Unlike traditional sonar systems, which rely on active sound waves, China’s latest passive depth-discrimination method works by listening to acoustic signals before examining their behaviour through a series of simulations.
The system is reported to have a 93% accuracy in locating submerged vessels and 100% accuracy when identifying surface targets, based on data gathered during China’s 2020 Arctic expedition.
If accurate, the figures could mean a possible power shift in undersea warfare, especially in US waters.
The Beaufort Sea borders the state of Alaska and has become an area of added strategic interest.
This stretch of water contains a “double duct” acoustic structure, a layering of water with different temperatures and salinities which warps sound propagation, often posing a challenge for traditional sonar systems.
But, thanks to the research conducted by Harbin Engineering University, Chinese vessels could potentially use a natural sound channel within these layers, formed by warm Pacific waters entering the region.
In turn, China may have a way to listen across the Arctic seabed, tracking submarines well before they reach U.S. waters.
As Beijing’s capabilities continue to advance, the US defence analysts warn that this technology could compromise stealth operations in one of America’s most critical defence corridors.
Key military assets such as ballistic missile submarines, which rely heavily on remaining undetected in deep, remote waters, may be compromised by the development, potentially sparking military strategists to re-evaluate undersea operations.
