Taipei, April 29, 2023 – The blockade continues Chinese fighters and naval vehicles To the island of Taiwan yesterday within 24 hours were the defenses of Taipei Spotted 6 Chinese ships and 38 aircraft, including the combat aircraft called the “Two-Tailed Scorpion”. Taiwan’s Ministry of Defense calculated today No less than 17 fighters and 6 warships Chinese, in the immediate vicinity of the island.

In addition to at least 13 Beijing aircraft They have no limits In the airspace of Taiwan in the southeastern part of the island, it is always followed by the Taipei Armed Forces that have deployed air and sea means and missile defense systems, the ministry explained in a statement on Twitter.

Usage: UAV underwater tests in the Taiwan Strait

Meanwhile, the United States will begin testing to help Taipei defend the island from Beijing’s claims Five submarines Drones in the Taiwan Strait. This was announced by the Chief of the US Naval Staff, Admiral Michael Gilday. And the admiral explained in a hearing before the Armed Forces Committee of the House of Representatives of the US Congress that the use of drones can “make a difference.”

Drones that can ‘make a difference’

These underwater drones are capable of laying mines in the Taiwan Strait. Gilday deputies said that testing of the first robotic submarine is already taking place off the coast of California.

Although there is no official communication, the underwater drones are said to be Orca-class XLUUVs, which have been in development by Boeing, Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) and Lockheed Martin since 2017 and are worth $40 million each.

ORCA XLUV

Orca is an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) under development by Boeing and Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) for the US Navy. Very large unmanned underwater vehicle It can work independently On missions of up to several months. The XLUUV departs from Boeing’s former Echo Voyager AUV. Specifically from this US Navy model i ordered 5, With a total value of $274.4 million. The five autonomous submarines have been delivered to Masina USA in 2022.

What can he do

The Orca is 51 feet, or 16 meters, long, like the Echo Voyager, but in modular construction it can reach, if necessary, up to 26 meters with an 8-ton capacity. Its tasks are surveillance, submerged combat, surface, electronic, mine clearance and mine clearance. It is powered by a hybrid diesel/lithium-ion battery system, like many other submarines that, while submerged, recharge the batteries with diesel generators, and then use them underwater. Top speed 8 knots (15 km/h) for a range of up to 6,500 miles (10,500 km), several months.