Submerged Dragon 2 AUV

Submerged Dragon 2 AUV is the second member of Submerged Dragon series UAV, and it is developed to operate in spaces where Submerged Dragon 1 cannot effectively operate, namely, the mountainous terrain on seabed, where in the deep criss-crossing trenches and ravines of seamounts, vertical maneuverability matters more than the horizontal maneuverability. Therefore, although it is a development of earlier Submerged Dragon 1 AUV, it looks drastically different than its predecessors: instead of the torpedo-shaped cylindrical hull of Submerged Dragon 1, Submerged Dragon 2 adopts a fish-shaped hull.[2][3][4][5][6][8][9][10][11][13]The reason for adopting a totally different hull form from its predecessor is the result of huge amount of hydrodynamic calculation and analysis, and the fish-shaped hull form enables Submerged Dragon 2 to have better vertical maneuverability than Submerged Dragon 1.[2][3][4][5][6][8]Submerged Dragon is also equipped with forward-looking imaging sonar.[6]The general designer of Submerged Dragon 2 is Mr. Liu Jian (刘健),[2][3][4][5][6]and Submerged Dragon 2 entered service in 2016.[6][8]Specification:[2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][13]

• Maximium operating depth: 4500 meter
• Length: 3.5 meter
• Height: 1.5 meter
• Weight: 1.5 ton
• Endurance: 30 hours

Submerged Dragon 3 is a development of Submerged Dragon 2, and has since been deployed in various Chinese research missions. [14][15][16][17]The general designer is the same general designer of Submerged Dragon 2, Mr. Liu Jian (刘健)[2][3][4][5][12][14][15]and the deputy general designer is Mr. Xu Yijun (许以军).[13]

Externally, Submerged Dragon looks identical to its predecessor Submerged Dragon 2, and it is an upgrade of Submerged Dragon 2.[2][3][4][5][6][12][13][16]Improvement includes replacing equipment with high power consumption on board Submerged Dragon 2 with equipment with lower power consumption with same performance on Submerged Dragon 3; replacing the imported foreign-built critical components of the navigational system on board Submerged Dragon 2 with domestic Chinese ones on Submerged Dragon 3; more efficient propulsion systems, better noise reduction and longer endurance achieved on Submerged Dragon 3 in comparison to Submerged Dragon 2.[13]Like earlier Submerged Dragon 2, the original ranging sonar on board Submerged Dragon 1 is also replaced by a forward looking imaging sonar on Submerged Dragon 3, along with other navigational systems, to help Submerged Dragon 3 to navigate in the valleys and ravines of seamounts, and trenches in seabed,[2][3][4][5][8]and the sonar produces better image with higher resolution in comparison to that of Submerged Dragon 2.[13]Submerged Dragon 3 entered service in 2019.[2][3][4][5]Specification:[2][3][4][5][7][8][9][12][13][14][15]

• Maximium operating depth: 4500 meter
• Length: 3.5 meter
• Height: 1.5 meter
• Weight: 1.5 ton
• Endurance: 40 hours