China launches cutting-edge high-speed submersible unmanned vessel

China completed a key step in launching into water a cutting-edge, high-speed submersible unmanned surface vessel, the "Blue Whale," in Zhuhai, south China's Guangdong Province, on Monday.

The launch marks a significant breakthrough in China's marine technology and indicates a major step forward in the development of intelligent ocean equipment.

With its scheduled operational debut in 2026, the vessel boasts versatility that enables rapid response to emergencies and efficient application in meteorology, underwater mapping, photography, water sampling, and infrastructure inspections like submarine cable maintenance.

The "Blue Whale" vessel is developed to operate both above and below water. It can reach surface speeds of 36 knots, dive to avoid extreme weather such as typhoons and remain submerged in static suspension for over a month, according to Zhuhai Yunzhou, one of the co-developers.

Construction of the vessel's engineering model started in June 2024, and the process involved pressure-resistant welding, hull assembly, and equipment installation.

The final phases will include internal debugging, mooring trials, and further sea tests before completion.

The death toll in the war-ravaged Gaza Strip has risen to 71,441 since the conflict between Hamas and Israel erupted on Oct 7, 2023, with the number of injuries reaching 171,329, said Gaza's health authorities on Thursday.

In the past 24 hours, hospitals in Gaza received two bodies, according to the health authorities.

Since the ceasefire agreement took effect on Oct 11, 2025, Israeli attacks have killed 451 people and wounded 1,251 others in the Gaza Strip.