Illustrative image. (Xinhua/Chen Cheng)
China is building what appears to be the world’s first dedicated mothership for deploying full-sized uncrewed submarines, signaling a significant step in Beijing’s development of large autonomous underwater systems, Naval News reported on September 15.
Satellite imagery reviewed by the publication shows the vessel under construction at the Hudong-Zhonghua shipyard in Shanghai. Its design resembles an amphibious landing ship, but instead of a conventional well deck, it features a large stern opening and a cradle mounted on 12 vertical jack-up arms for launching and recovering underwater drones.
An enclosed hangar forward of the stern deck is designed to accommodate the submersibles. Based on the estimated dimensions of the ship and China’s known XXLUUV designs, Naval News assessed that it could carry as many as four of the large autonomous submarines.
China is currently developing full-size autonomous underwater vehicles substantially larger than those being tested by other major navies. Two Chinese models measuring roughly 35 to 45 meters are undergoing testing in Hainan. Naval News said they are approximately six to eight times longer than the U.S. Navy’s Boeing Orca XLUUV.
The new mothership could address a major limitation of China’s current testing program. The XXLUUVs have so far been supported by specially configured floating docks for coastal trials. A dedicated vessel capable of transporting, launching and recovering them at sea would provide a means to move the systems into deeper waters and support more sustained operations.
The ship also differs significantly from a 2025 concept for a civilian undersea research vessel that shares some broad design features. Its much larger dimensions and enclosed hangar point instead toward a military support role, according to Naval News.
The exact mission China envisions for its giant underwater drones remains unknown. Their size, however, would allow them to carry substantially greater payloads and operate over much longer distances than conventional unmanned underwater vehicles, potentially giving the Chinese navy a new option for surveillance, reconnaissance or combat missions far from shore.
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