China reveals new quantum drone tech to track stealth US submarines underwater
China’s new breakthrough in magnetic detection technology could help it detect US submarines amid growing tensions.
Space scientists from China have revealed a breakthrough in magnetic detection technology that could boost the country’s underwater warfare capabilities.
During offshore trials, their drone-mounted quantum sensor system displayed picotesla precision in tracking magnetic anomalies.
It also mapped the seabed with extreme precision, the researchers explained in a new peer-reviewed paper. Their new system could detect enemy submarines with extreme precision, while also enabling a host of other applications.
China’s CPT submarine detector
Traditionally, anti-submarine forces have used optically pumped magnetometers (OPMs) to detect vessels. However, according to a South China Morning Post (SCMP) report, these have critical “blind zones” in low-latitude regions like the South China Sea. This is because the Earth’s magnetic field runs almost parallel to the surface. If the sensor’s optical axis aligns too closely with magnetic field lines, this weakens the signal.
China’s quantum sensor could overcome these limitations, giving China the edge when it comes to underwater warfare. Anti-submarine forces using the system could pinpoint a submarine with great precision and even detect the tail waves of enemy vessels.