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Javier Márquez
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Karen Alfaro
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In submarine warfare, silence is survival. The quieter a vessel, the harder it is to detect with sonar. While AI systems are reshaping modern naval strategy, reducing acoustic signatures remains a top priority. Now, a Chinese research team says it has made a significant leap in submarine stealth technology.
According to the South China Morning Post, scientists at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, working with the China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC), have developed a hybrid vibration isolation system that sharply reduces the transmission of engine noise to a submarine’s hull—one of the main pathways for sonar detection.
How it works. Traditional engine mounts are rigid, transmitting vibrations directly into the submarine’s structure. This new system replaces them with a hybrid active-passive mount that combines mechanical dampening with intelligent electronic control.
The passive component consists of a steel-rubber-steel ring that absorbs low-frequency vibrations. Surrounding the engine are 12 piezoelectric actuators—devices that generate mechanical movement when electrically charged. These actuators are precisely calibrated and positioned to counteract small, noise-generating vibrations.
Together, they reduce both structural-borne and low-frequency sound—the latter being especially difficult to suppress and easier for sonar systems to detect.
An adaptive algorithm, known as Filtered-X Least Mean Squares, manages the actuators in real time. It identifies and recreates unwanted noise signals, then neutralizes them using feedback-based cancellation. The algorithm also prevents interference between actuators and adjusts to changes in engine behavior as they occur.
Lab results show promise. The system was tested on a 440-pound simulated engine operating at 1,500 rpm (25 Hz), housed in a cylindrical metal casing. At 100 Hz, the passive damper alone reduced noise by 12 decibels (dB). With the full system active, attenuation reached 24 dB. At 400 Hz—another common sonar detection band—the reduction peaked at 26 dB.
Researchers say a 10 dB drop in noise could cut a submarine’s sonar detection range by about 32%, making even modest gains strategically valuable.
Limitations remain. Despite promising results, the technology is still in early stages. Researchers noted the rubber’s performance may degrade under the temperature and pressure variations of real-world underwater environments. The long-term durability of the piezoelectric actuators also remains unproven.
Notably, the study avoids specifying what type of submarine—diesel-electric or nuclear—might eventually use the system. The term “underwater vehicle” is used throughout, offering no confirmation of operational deployment. Still, CSSC’s involvement suggests the Chinese military sees strategic value in the project.
The bigger picture. China’s continued investment in acoustic stealth reflects the central role submarines play in modern naval doctrine, especially in contested waters like the South China Sea and western Pacific. While this engine isolation system hasn’t yet been deployed, its development signals China’s ongoing push to close the technological gap with other major naval powers.
Image | Christian Lue (Unsplash)
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