China unveils potential largest underwater drone in naval leap
MT Anderson, an analyst of open-source intelligence, has noted the presence of a new, previously unknown submarine at the Guangzhou Shipyard in southern China. While information about this submarine is limited, it is possible that Beijing has secretly constructed the world's largest combat underwater drone.
China has once again surprised the world with the rapid expansion and modernization of its navy. Satellite images highlighted by MT Anderson show that a new submarine has appeared at the Guangzhou Shipyard dock. This has been confirmed by experts from Naval News, who describe it as a "new and previously unreported design."
China's new submarine
Currently, little is known about the submarine's specifications and purpose. However, photos suggest it measures approximately 148 feet in length and 16 feet in width. Notably, it features large X-shaped rudders and lacks a conning tower, which traditionally facilitates interior access and enhances surface visibility.
Eliminating the conning tower improves the hull's streamlining, but until now, such a design was mainly seen in experimental units. Naval News emphasizes that China is the only country that has successfully built a submarine without a conning tower; one was launched at the Jiangnan Shipyard in Shanghai in 2019. It is possible that the recently observed unit is an evolution of this previous project.
Naval News also suggests that the construction of the new submarine indicates it may be an unmanned unit (XLUUV - extra-large uncrewed underwater vehicle). Typically, such vehicles do not have a conning tower because crew access is unnecessary. If these suspicions are confirmed, it would be the largest unmanned submarine globally, 6 to even 8 times larger than the American Orca XLUUV.
China builds military might
According to a report from the United States Department of Defense released in December 2024, the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) has about 370 warships, including approximately 60 submarines—12 nuclear-powered and 48 conventionally powered—making it the largest in the world. Pentagon forecasts suggest that by the end of 2025, the number of ships owned by Beijing will increase to 395, including 65 submarines, and by 2030, it will reach 435 units, with 80 submarines.
The Chinese Navy is not the only area where the country is focusing on increasing its capabilities and expansion. There is also intense development in air and ground forces. In October 2024, the Defense Intelligence Agency, an American military intelligence agency within the Pentagon, prepared a report highlighting China's alarming pace of nuclear weapons accumulation. The document indicates that in 2020, Beijing had about 200 operational nuclear warheads, currently has about 500, and by 2030, the number could exceed one thousand.
Additionally, on December 26, which is the birthday of Mao Zedong, the founder of the People's Republic of China, a mysterious aircraft developed by Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group (CAIG) was revealed as a sixth-generation machine. The Chengdu J-36 is the latest project of the Chinese aviation industry. The aircraft features a tailless flying wing design with a double delta configuration aimed at maximizing stealth properties.
As we previously reported, its broad fuselage suggests significant capacity in its internal weapon bays, capable of carrying a variety of air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles. The presence of advanced electro-optical sensors indicates an ability to operate in diverse combat conditions, with an emphasis on high situational awareness. If information about China's sixth-generation fighter jets is confirmed, it would mean that the country has become the first to possess such a machine.
