China Builds World’s First Mothership to Deploy Giant Submarine Drones

China is accelerating its naval modernization with the construction of what appears to be the world’s first mothership designed to deploy full-sized uncrewed submarines, Naval News reported on September 15.

Spotted at the Hudong-Zhonghua shipyard in Shanghai, the specialized vessel marks a significant milestone in Beijing’s undeclared initiative to operationalize extra-extra-large uncrewed underwater vehicles (XXLUUVs).

According to satellite imagery reviewed by Naval News, the new vessel resembles an amphibious landing ship equipped with a stern well-deck. Unlike standard well-decks, this design is open underneath and utilizes a large cradle on 12 vertical “jack-up” arms to deploy and recover the drones.

Forward of the well-deck, an internal hangar provides space to house the submersibles. Given the dimensions of the Chinese XXLUUVs, the mothership is estimated to be capable of carrying up to four of the massive drones simultaneously.

China is currently the only nation building full-size autonomous submarines. Two models, measuring between 35 and 45 meters (115–148 feet) in length, are undergoing testing in Hainan. These Chinese platforms are roughly six to eight times larger than the US Navy’s Boeing Orca XLUUV, according to Naval News.

Until now, the Chinese Navy has relied on specially designed floating docks for coastal testing, making the introduction of a mobile, deep-water mothership a critical upgrade for operational deployment.

While the new ship’s design shares similarities with a 2025 proposal for a civilian undersea research submersible, its sheer scale and the inclusion of a closed internal hangar strongly indicate a military application. Naval News assessed that the only plausible role for the vessel is as a drone submarine tender and combat launch platform.

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The exact strategic doctrine for China’s XXLUUV fleet remains undisclosed. However, the drones are expected to fulfill long-range combat roles, which could include autonomous deployments off the west coast of the United States during periods of heightened tension. This dedicated infrastructure investment indicates that Beijing is pushing well ahead of global competitors in integrating uncrewed platforms into deep-water naval operations.

Meanwhile, the evolution of uncrewed naval capabilities is already transforming active combat zones. In the Black Sea, Ukrainian forces recently recorded what is considered the first naval battle in history between two uncrewed surface vessels. A Ukrainian Sargan-3000 maritime drone, equipped with a remote-controlled 12.7 mm machine gun turret, successfully intercepted a Russian surface drone.

After targeting the Russian vessel’s communication antennas from approximately one kilometer away to disrupt its remote control, the Ukrainian drone immobilized and sank the target.

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