China Builds 'Mothership Capable of Launching Submarine Drones'
- China is likely building the world's first specialized mothership for underwater drones at the Hudong-Zhonghua shipyard in Shanghai, according to recent satellite imagery reviewed by analysts.
- This development fits Beijing's pattern of investing in autonomous systems to supplement traditional naval power amid rising tensions in the disputed South China Sea with regional rivals.
- Open-Source analyst H.I. Sutton identified a roughly 200-metre hull featuring a large internal hangar and stern launch system designed to carry four extra-extra-large uncrewed underwater vehicles .
- Aditya Ramanathan, a research fellow at the Takshashila Institution, warned the vessels could "quietly collect data on the noises, the acoustic signatures of other ships and submarines," making detection harder for countries like India.
- Alessandro Arduino, an associate fellow at the Royal United Services Institute, noted the vessel may require two to three years of sea trials before deployment, potentially shifting future maritime combat toward drone-heavy operations.
15 Articles
15 Articles
The Independent
The Independent (US)China may be building world’s first ‘mothership’ for underwater drones
Military experts say uncrewed vessels significantly boost Beijing’s naval capabilities
Satellite images released by the British website The Sun show the construction of a large vessel in a Shanghai shipyard that can be used as a mother ship to transport and launch state-of-the-art submarine drones. The structure, which is being built at the Hudong-Zhonghua shipyard, would have the capacity to transport up to four large autonomous submarine vehicles, according to the report published on Wednesday (16).
China Building Underwater Drone Mothership Capable of Carrying 4 Giant Submarines: Report | 🌎 LatestLY
China is building what analysts believe is the world’s first dedicated mothership for giant uncrewed submarines, satellite images show. The Shanghai vessel could carry about four XXLUUVs, which are far larger than Western underwater drones. The development follows tests of two giant Chinese autonomous submarines in the South China Sea, though Beijing has not confirmed the ship’s role. 🌎 China Building Underwater Drone Mothership Capable of Carr…
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