The autonomous drones these ships support were tested off Hainan and measure 35 to 45 meters in length, making them larger than the US Navy's Orca. The Chinese military can utilize these vehicles for surveillance, minelaying and strike missions.
Tuesday, October 20, 2026
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China Builds Second Mothership for Extra Large Underwater Drones
Geopolitics2 days ago
Six large arms for deploying unmanned underwater vehicles are visible on a new ship hull located at a southern Chinese shipyard. This vessel is the second identified mothership for the navy's drone program, following a previous ship launched at the Hudong-Zhonghua shipyard in Shanghai. These hulls enable China to deploy and service drones far from its coast, such as in the Indian Ocean.
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