China’s new drone submarine boasts 3452-mile underwater range, can carry torpedoes

China has unveiled the design of an unprecedented large uncrewed diesel-electric drone submarine.

An online defense news outlet reports that the design is reconfigurable to perform various missions, including attacking enemy ships, mine-laying, supporting special operations, and serving as a mothership for smaller uncrewed underwater vehicles (UUVs).

The China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) released the model of the “small special operations unmanned submarine" at the Zhuhai Airshow.

According to the product details, the drone submarine varies in length from approximately 38 meters (124 feet) to 43 meters (141 feet), depending on its version and configuration.

The submarine is designed to operate at depths of 300 meters (984 feet) to 450 meters (1,476 feet). According to experts, the new submarine design may be linked to a CCSC prototype spotted in 2017.

https://twitter.com/sugar_wsnbn/status/1855554012302716952

Versatile submarine design

The drone submarine model, unveiled by CSSC at the Zhuhai Airshow, features a streamlined design with a low-profile dorsal hump instead of a traditional sail.

According to The War Zone (TWZ), the cutaway model reveals a torpedo tube, a central battery array, propulsion systems driving a single unshrouded stern propeller, and mission systems located in the bow. A collapsible mast, typical of large UUVs like Boeing’s Orca, is positioned at the rear.

CSSC’s product card details three configurations: Type A, which can carry 8–12 torpedoes or torpedo-tube-launched missiles; Type B, which can support 6–8 special operations divers with their equipment; and Type C, which can transport either 8–12 mines or 4 large or multiple small UUVs.

The submarine’s length ranges from 124 to 141 feet (38 to 43 meters), and its surface displacement is between 380 tons (836,000 pounds) and 450 tons (990,000 pounds).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TkcKaZ4x9mA&pp=ygUhc3VibWFyaW5lIGludGVyZXN0aW5nIGVuZ2luZWVyaW5n

The design is capable of diving to depths of 984–1,476 feet (300–450 meters). It reaches a maximum speed of 20 knots (23 mph) and cruises at 8 knots (9 mph) on the surface, with an underwater cruising speed of 6 knots (7 mph). It can cover 3,000 nautical miles (3,452 miles) underwater and 10,000 nautical miles (11,507 miles) surfaced, both at a steady 6-knot (7 mph) pace.

Autonomous submarine potential

The autonomy envisioned for CSSC's new drone submarine remains uncertain. However, the product card highlights human interface capabilities via satellite communications and underwater acoustic links, with the mast on the model facilitating data transmission. Advanced autonomy would be essential for the proposed missions.

According to TWZ, the design lacks explicit features for acoustic or other signature reduction, as evidenced by the unshrouded single propeller. The product card mentions the submarine's potential for blockade operations, a strategy often linked to Taiwan and regularly practiced by the PLA. The Type B variant, specifically, is tailored for special operations raids.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4Tm67_oiiU&pp=ygUhc3VibWFyaW5lIGludGVyZXN0aW5nIGVuZ2luZWVyaW5n

This large, long-endurance drone submarine could prove versatile for missions in coastal waters or open seas. Its potential to operate autonomously would enable extended underwater picket lines, enhancing submarine presence and operational capacity at lower costs. The submarines could also collaborate with manned fleets to amplify tactical advantages.

Progress on this ambitious design remains unclear, though signs suggest substantial development. In 2018, CSSC’s JN shipyard had launched a new submarine design with a low-profile dorsal hump, confirmed by 2019 imagery. Naval analysts estimated the design’s length to be 150 feet (45 meters), which aligns with the model recently showcased by CSSC.