Upgraded Jiaolong Submersible Proves Reliability at 7,000 m

An upgraded version of China's Jiaolong manned submersible has completed its 7,000-metre sea trials, a result that underscores the progress of the country's deep-sea technology.

The second version of Jiaolong conducted multiple dives in the Philippine Basin. Its three test dives included two descents below 7,000 metres, and the maximum depth reached was 7,056.9 metres. The submersible surfaced safely after each dive.

The trial data show that every performance indicator satisfied the requirements for 7,000-metre-class sea trials. The successful completion of the national key research and development programme's trials marks a significant step forward for the project.

Sun Yongfu, a researcher at the China National Deep Sea Base Management Centre, stated that the upgrade and the localisation of major components fully validate the submersible's reliability and safety. According to him, the achievement enhances China's technological strengths in manned deep-sea submersible equipment.