The government is planning to develop an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) capable of exploring the seabed at depths of up to 7,000 meters, it has been learned.
Such a vehicle would be able to conduct deep-sea probes in 98% of Japan's exclusive economic zone, facilitating significant progress in seismic research and the exploration of seafloor resources. In the future, the government intends to use the vehicle to safeguard Japan's security, according to sources.
The envisaged AUV will be 10.5 meters long, 1.3 meters wide and 1.5 meters high. The goal is for the vehicle to be able to travel about 110 kilometers per dive and operate for 24 hours, the sources said. The government ultimately aims for a maximum diving depth of 8,000 meters, the same as the deepest point in the Japan Trench.
