China’s 670-Foot Mothership: The Silent Threat Patrolling the South China
Beijing’s new 670-foot mothership at Shanghai’s Hudong-Zhonghua shipyard can deploy four giant underwater drones.
Satellite imagery from Shanghai’s Hudong-Zhonghua shipyard has revealed the construction of a massive vessel experts believe will serve as the world’s first mothership for large underwater drones. The ship, measuring 670 feet long and 88.5 feet wide, is designed to deploy and retrieve uncrewed vehicles, potentially reshaping naval operations in contested waters.
The mothership’s stern includes a wet well deck and a cradle supported by 12 vertical jack-up arms, allowing it to lower drones directly into the water. Its estimated range of over 10,000 nautical miles would enable operations far beyond China’s immediate coastal areas, aligning with Beijing’s efforts to strengthen its maritime presence in the Indo-Pacific.
Naval analysts suggest the drones could carry sensors to detect submarines and their acoustic signatures, compiling a vast database of underwater activity. Unlike traditional submarines, these uncrewed vehicles can operate in shallow waters and tight spaces, remaining submerged for extended periods without risking human lives. Their smaller size and lower cost make them ideal for covert surveillance and control over disputed areas, such as the South China Sea.
China’s Underwater Drone Mothership Takes Shape in Shanghai: underwater drones
The mothership’s capacity to carry at least four drones—including two nearly 115 feet long and two around 148 feet—would significantly expand China’s ability to monitor and assert influence over remote islands and reefs. This development comes as Beijing faces ongoing disputes with neighboring countries, particularly the Philippines, over territorial claims in the region, despite an international tribunal ruling against China’s expansive claims.
The vessel is expected to be operational within two years, though Beijing has neither confirmed nor denied its existence. If deployed, it could serve as a mobile command center, coordinating drone operations across vast ocean expanses, from the Pacific to the Indian Ocean. For nations already concerned about China’s growing naval capabilities, the mothership represents a new challenge—one that traditional defenses may struggle to counter.
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