China Develops Advanced Electromagnetic Sensor for Submarine Detection
China’s 82-foot electromagnetic sensor could hunt nuclear submarines underwater

Image: Interesting Engineering
China has tested an 82-foot airborne electromagnetic detection system, known as Airborne Transient Electromagnetic (Atem), designed to locate nuclear submarines underwater. The system, developed by a team led by Fu Jingcheng, utilizes a helicopter and a large array of coils to emit electromagnetic signals for military and civilian applications.
- 01The Airborne Transient Electromagnetic (Atem) detection system consists of three 82-foot coils suspended from a helicopter.
- 02The system generates electromagnetic fields to detect submerged objects by analyzing secondary signals from conductive materials.
- 03Maintaining stability during flight is crucial for data accuracy; the design incorporates a flexible aerodynamic film to stabilize the coils.
- 04The technology has potential military applications, particularly in submarine detection, as suggested by previous studies.
- 05The research was published in the journal Acta Aeronautica et Astronautica Sinica on April 25.
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China has successfully tested an innovative airborne electromagnetic detection system, known as the Airborne Transient Electromagnetic (Atem) system, which could potentially locate hidden nuclear submarines beneath the ocean surface. Developed by a research team led by Fu Jingcheng, PhD, from Beihang University and the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the system features three large dodecagonal coils, each measuring approximately 82 feet (25 meters) across. These coils are suspended from a helicopter and emit powerful electromagnetic signals to detect submerged objects by analyzing secondary electromagnetic signals produced by conductive materials below the surface. The research team faced challenges in maintaining the stability of the coil array during flight, as wind and helicopter maneuvers could affect data accuracy. To address this, they developed a computer model to optimize cable lengths and tensions and added a flexible aerodynamic film to stabilize the coils. A successful seven-minute test flight confirmed the system's capability to maintain the necessary orientation for precision measurements. The findings were published in the journal Acta Aeronautica et Astronautica Sinica on April 25.
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