CapabilityUA · independent

China fields second UUV tender vessel, indicating systematic large underwater-drone programme

Published 20 October 2026

A second Chinese vessel designed to launch and service large unmanned underwater vehicles has been spotted at Dongguan, Guangdong — roughly one-third smaller than an earlier example under construction in Shanghai. Both carry a large stern opening, a hangar-like compartment and dedicated lifting structures assessed as suited for deploying and recovering UUVs for seabed mapping, mine-hunting or undersea infrastructure surveillance. The appearance of a second distinct hull suggests China is pursuing the capability systematically rather than experimentally, though official confirmation of purpose and programme scale is absent.

Pictures from the cited posts

Sources — 2 posts

Telegram channel:Istoria Zbroi (Історія_Зброї) friendly19 Oct 2026 Open the post
Telegram channel:Victory Drones friendly18 Oct 2026 Open the post

Topicsnaval drones foreign involvement

Related findings

← Latest findings · All findings from October 2026