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The latest achievement of the National Natural Science Foundation of China’s major instrument project, led by the SIO, - the submersible unmanned vessel “Blue Whale” - was officially launched.
Date：2025-04-30
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On April 28, the latest achievement of the National Natural Science Foundation of China’s major instrument project, “Intelligent and Agile Marine Stereoscopic Observer”, led by the SIO, - the submersible unmanned vessel “Blue Whale” - was officially launched. Director Fang Yinxia and Academician Chen Dake attended the launching ceremony, and experts from many domestic universities in related fields witnessed it together.
At the event, Project Chief Scientist and Academician Chen Dake from the SIO introduced the “Blue Whale”. As the core achievement of the National Natural Science Foundation of China’s major instrument project, the “Blue Whale” is the world’s first intelligent underwater vehicle capable of “surface sprinting + deep-sea cruising + silent lurking” in three environments. With a length of 11 meters and a weight of 12 tons, it can reach speeds of 30-40 knots on the surface, with a surface endurance of hundreds of kilometers. Its diving depth can reach 60 meters, and it can remain statically suspended for approximately 30 days. Equipped with sounding rockets and various sensors, it can conduct continuous observation experiments under harsh typhoon conditions by diving and can also launch rockets when surfacing in the typhoon center. It possesses three-dimensional marine and aerial detection capabilities, providing robust support for typhoon observation.
Prior to this, a prototype model of the “Blue Whale” submersible unmanned vessel underwent sounding rocket tests under high sea conditions, and the rockets were successfully launched. Subsequently, the “Blue Whale” will undergo mooring tests and sea trials and is expected to be put into practical application next year.
