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The Submarine cables They are one of the most important elements today. Not only is it a huge infrastructure that organizations and companies continue to develop -with such ambitious projects as the Meta cablewhich will take more than one return to the earth-but have become today thanks to the Ukraine War already maneuvers at the South China Sea. It is in this conflict that Some cut cables They have triggered the fear of running out of the Internet, and everything that implies.
These cables are protected, but can be damaged by ships. Now, China has presented a device designed with a task in mind: cut underwater cables. And it is the first time that someone announces that he has a tool capable of interrupting critical underwater networks.
The importance of cables. There are more than 1.4 billion meters of submarine cables that connect all countries. There are other thousands of kilometers planned, and the vast majority of communications in some countries depend on these cables. 95% of them in the case of Australiafor example, and I know esteem that 95% of the data managed by the American population and 75% by China depend on them. They are vital for the Internet and all that this implies, such as streaming, artificial intelligence or servers, and this year they have become protagonists in war scenarios.
Countries in conflict have realized that they can cause great damage by cutting these cables by boats or through more sophisticated techniques, such as Sound attacks. There are times that They are simple accidentsbut the suspicion that a damaged underwater cable corresponds to an enemy attack is something that is there. And more now with what they just announced from China.
The Chinese device. As we read in South China Morning Postthe State Key Laboratory of Deep Water Crewing Vehicles and the Scientific Research Center of Ships of China, have developed a tool that describe as “compact” and that is capable of cutting the most sophisticated underwater communication lines or energy in the world.
As it is a tool designed specifically for this, it has been conceived to cut cables at depths of up to 4,000 meters. There are no cables right now that they are in such depth, but its creators have provided the device with a completely sealed titanium alloy housing to resist that enormous pressure.
This is Haidu, and can carry this “radial”
Your weapons. The device is equipped with a kilowatt engine and as a cutting tool uses a 150 millimeter diamond wheel that rotates at 1,600 revolutions per minute. Let’s say it is the mixture between a protected drone to endure very high pressures and a radial. This cutting tool allows to destroy up to armored cables that have steel layers, rubber and polymeric coating.
And its form has been designed so that it can be integrated both in manned and non -manned submersibles of China. For example, haidou vehicles or Fondouzhe could have this as one of their tools. He Haiduas a curiosity, it is an unmanned submersible in the form of fish and eyes drawings and fins created for exploration. He Fendouzhe It is a manned submarine, also for research and exploration.
World Order. As we say, threaten to cut underwater cables It is not something new. We have seen it in the Ukraine War, but it is the first time that a country officially reveals a tool designed exclusively for that task. Of course, those responsible affirm that the tool has been created for civil purposes.
Which is it? Rescue and mining operations in the maritime bed, but it is evident that it is a tool that is surely causing the other neck itching in rulers around the world. It is clear that such a tool can destabilize communications in a crisis and be used strategically during an attack. And it is not only communication, but everything that has to do with the Internet, such as servers and services that depend on them.
Debate and consequences. When a cable is cut, communications are rapidly redirected through another, since they are prepared to have a large bandwidth. Therefore, important interruptions are not usually produced, but that cable You have to repair itbeing a fairly expensive process. Now, when it is not a single cut cable, but several, that connection may be set.
It is what has led to a debate about the need to protect infrastructure. NATO has launched The mission “Baltic Sentry” To patrol sensitive regions with airplanes, drones and warships. There are also companies that are offering advanced cable monitoring services, answering all measures to a single issue: the protection of infrastructure and early detection to prevent cuts.
That there are countries that have already made public that have sophisticated tools for cutting submarine cables and interfering with world geopolitics, is a new headache.
Images | Akamgo Yalms (2), What’s Inside
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