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Indonesian Fisherman Catches Chinese Underwater Drone, Prompting Navy Investigation
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An Indonesian fisherman discovered an object strongly resembling a Chinese unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV), Republika reported on April 7.
The UUV was floating in the waters of the North Trawangan Strait, roughly 10 miles from Gili Trawangan in the West Nusa Tenggara Province. Upon discovering the suspicious object, residents immediately reported it to local authorities, leading to its evacuation to Gili Trawangan, where police secured the area. At approximately 1:00 p.m. local time, a specialized Bomb Disposal and Chemical, Biological, and Radioactive Bomb Squad (Gegana Team) conducted a thorough inspection.
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Authorities confirmed that no explosives or radioactive materials were found inside. Instead, initial identification suggests the object is an underwater robot or sensor system developed by the China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation (CSIC), one of China’s largest state-owned shipbuilding groups.
Following the inspection, the device was transported via official truck and secured at the Mataram Naval Base Headquarters for further analysis. Rear Admiral Tunggul, Head of the Navy Information Service, has not yet issued an official response regarding the discovery, Republika wrote.
A closer look at the device revealed several distinct features pointing to its origin and purpose. The object is inscribed with the Chinese text “研制” (yán zhì), which translates to “research and development” or “developed by.” The design incorporates various cables, sensors, and a top hatch housing oceanographic research equipment.
Most notably, the object appears to be equipped with an acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP)—a hydro-acoustic measuring device similar to sonar that is used to gauge the speed and direction of water currents at specific depths, according to Republika.
The discovery of this suspected underwater drone in Indonesian waters highlights China’s expanding maritime surveillance footprint across the Indo-Pacific. This incident follows a trend of Beijing aggressively deploying advanced UUVs and extra-large underwater drones (XLUUVs)—some of which bear a striking resemblance to Russia’s nuclear-capable Poseidon torpedoes—to map strategic waterways and monitor foreign naval activities.
