Researchers with Tianjin University, one of the largest multidisciplinary engineering universities in China, have completed a test of the autonomous underwater unmanned vehicle (UUV), “Haiyan,” in the South China Sea, the Qingdao News reports in an online story postedf Junbe 29, 2014.

During the test, the vehicle worked consecutively for 21 days and reached a depth of 1,094 meters. With an endurance of 30 days, the torpedo-shaped vessel moves at a maximum underwater speed of close to six kilometers per hour, reports China’s largest online news source.

With a length of 1.8 meters and a diameter of 0.3 meters, the 70 kilogram Haiyan is designed for scientific sea bed exploration, for marine biology, and for aiding in search-and-rescue missions. According to the Qingdao News’ story, however, the UUV can be upgraded to serve as an underwater combat and patrol vessel. In the latter instance developers envision it taking on lengthy and dangerous missions like minesweeping and submarine detection to protect ships and offshore structures such as oil platforms.

Tianjin University is located in northern China in the city of Tianjin, one of the five national central cities of the People’s Republic of China.