Two Chinese research institutes are developing drones launched from submarines capable of both underwater and aerial transit, according to a report in a Chinese scientific journal. The new submarine-launched drone is said to be part of Beijing’s plan to counter U.S. military drone strikes — both underwater and aerial — in the early phases of a Chinese invasion of Taiwan.

Military commanders have said U.S. plans for defending Taiwan call for creating a “hellscape” for invading forces with large numbers of low-cost attack drones.

Researchers at the Northwestern Polytechnical University (NWPU) and the China Aerodynamics Research and Development Centre (CARDC) are reportedly working on a drone with foldable wings capable of traveling through water and air several times during a strike or reconnaissance mission. The dual air-sea design is said to be for concealment and survival in a conflict.

The drone, called “Feiyi” by Chinese researchers, will also be used for marine reconnaissance and surveillance operations in addition to attack operations. In Chinese, the character fei means “fly” and yi is a 3,000-year-old character describing a water bird spreading its wings and preparing to take off from the surface.

Details of the drone were outlined Dec. 31 in Acta Aeronautica et Astronautica Sinica, a journal published by the Chinese Society of Aeronautics and Astronautics, a state-controlled organization. According to the report, the drone uses four pairs of rotating blades for aerial flight that can be retracted to the fuselage for travel in water. Tail-mounted propellers drive the drone during underwater operation.

The Fey is said to have the ability to surface, open its rotors and take off into the air.

Dong Changyin, leader of a team at the NWPU, told the journal that the drone is supported by artificial intelligence and can operate autonomously in completing special missions.

U.S. submarine-launched drones lack the capability of self-launching from the sea,d must be fired from a torpedo tube, and lack underwater capabilities, the report said. Without the ability to dive into water, U.S. drones are more vulnerable to attack.

The Navy is buying a submarine-launched unmanned aerial drone called Blackwing, derived from the unarmed Switchblade suicide attack drone. It could be armed in the future, however.

Adm. Sam Paparo, commander of the Indo-Pacific Command, stated in a naval journal article published earlier this month that his plans for deterring a Chinese attack on Taiwan include deploying large numbers of drone weapons.

The military is rapidly procuring drones for use in both air and sea in what he called Project 33, he said. One drone planned for use is built by Avidrone Aerospace, a Canadian manufacturer. The company built four types of military drones with varying ranges and payload capacities.

“They can be built quickly, are difficult to detect and counter, and can carry a variety of payloads, both logistical and lethal,” Adm. Paparo said.

• Bill Gertz can be reached at bgertz@washingtontimes.com.