China launches new submarine program
Chinese scientists have launched a program to build a new manned submersible capable of diving to a depth of 4,500 meters and conducting scientific research on most forms of seabed on Earth, Xinhua news agency reported.
Mr. Hu Zhen of China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation, who is responsible for developing technology for the submersible program under the Ministry of Science and Technology, revealed the information in an interview conducted on the Xiangyang Hong 09 - the ship carrying the Jiaolong submersible.
Jiaolong submersible. (Source: people.com.cn)
The Giao Long submersible has successfully dived to a depth of 7,062m, putting China among the most developed countries in the world in the field of deep-sea submersibles.
While completing the maintenance of the entire Jiaolong, Hu Zhen and his colleagues plan to start researching and developing a second deep-sea submersible to serve China's seabed research activities.
According to Mr. Hu Zhen, the key parts of the new submersible, such as the robotic arm and the high-pressure chamber for the crew made from titanium alloy, will be independently researched and developed by Chinese scientists.
Mr. Hu Zhen said the Jiaolong can dive to 99.8% of all seabeds on Earth, while the new submersible is expected to be able to patrol most of the seabeds./.
According to (Vietnam+) - VT
