The key facts
- A ship similar to the Shanghai one, but roughly one-third smaller, has been spotted in Guangzhou
- Both vessels may be used to launch, service, and recover underwater drones
- Their exact missions are unconfirmed; so far they are assessed as experimental platforms
A second similar vessel spotted in Guangzhou
As The War Zone reports, about a month ago there were reports of the near-completion of an unusual ship at the Changxingdao island shipyard in Shanghai. Its design, according to preliminary assessments, is adapted for housing, launching, and servicing underwater unmanned vehicles. Now new images from Guangzhou show a vessel that is very similar in overall appearance to the Shanghai one, but smaller — by initial estimates, roughly one-third smaller. There are also some differences in hull shape.
Design features
The new vessel has six mast posts visible; the larger Shanghai ship has six large and six small superstructures. In both designs, a flight deck and hangar are located behind the forward superstructure, and the funnels are similarly placed.
Assessments and uncertainty
So far, both ships are regarded primarily as experimental platforms, and little open data exists about their exact missions and capabilities. The outlet notes that such vessels could deliver large underwater drones to areas distant from the Chinese coast, launch, recover, and service them, facilitating the use of vehicles with long autonomous patrols. Such drones are capable of mapping the seabed, searching for mines, detecting submarines and surface targets; a possible future use for launching cruise missiles or other drones is also discussed, but the presence of such capabilities in the spotted ships or their vehicles is not confirmed.
Possible implications
The article emphasizes that an expansion of such a fleet could enhance China's ability to conduct operations in remote areas of the Pacific. Discussions of a potential threat to US assets remain, for now, assessments of the future use of these technologies.
