China’s terrifying device 4 kilometers underwater that could plunge the world into darkness
The system features a 150-mm diamond-coated grinding wheel that rotates at 1,600 rpm and can cut submarine cables up to 60 mm thick.
China’s CSSRC (State Key Laboratory of Deep-Sea Manned Vehicles) has developed an underwater cable cutter capable of destroying interoceanic data transmission cables at a depth of 4,000 km. According to the South China Morning Post, this device was initially designed for civil rescue and ocean mining applications, but it has the capability to cut through reinforced steel cables that transmit 95% of global data.
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The system’s diamond-coated 150-mm grinding wheel spins at 1,600 rpm, allowing it to slice through cable reinforcements while minimizing sediment disruption. Early test reports confirm that the cutter can sever reinforced cables up to 60 mm thick. Additionally, its titanium alloy casing and oil-compensated seals prevent implosion under extreme pressure, making it compatible with Chinese submarines, including the Fendouzhe and Haidou series.
The international community, on alert
The international community has raised concerns about this device, fearing it could be used to attack critical infrastructure, significantly impacting the global Internet, banking systems, and vital communications. Its ability to target infrastructure from stealthy unmanned platforms makes it an ideal tool for cyber warfare and sabotage, without requiring direct military confrontation.
“Underwater cutting device”
According to Newsweek, in 2020, engineers from Lishui University in Zhejiang developed a technology called the “drag-type underwater cable cutting device.” Experts warned that the increasing presence of submarine data cables could pose a security threat, making it “necessary to cut them in some emergency situations.”
Traditional cutting methods require locating, excavating, and retrieving the cables before cutting, making them complex and costly. In response, they developed a fast-cutting, low-cost device capable of performing this task efficiently while minimizing risks.