Chinese Mine Warfare Surface Drone (USV)

Better images have emerged of a new Chinese Navy (PLAN – People’s Liberation Army Navy) uncrewed surface vessel. The new type was first observed in Chinese social media reports in August last year.

The type is known to be related to mine hunting (MCM – mine countermeasures) and has been observed on exercise alongside the Type-529 Wonang Class inshore uncrewed minesweeping craft (MSI). China was an early adopter of uncrewed vessels for minesweeping although the Type-529 cannot be described as a sophisticated arrangement. The new type appears likely to be a one-one replacement for the Type-529.

The new USV exercising alongside legacy Type-529 Wonang Class inshore uncrewed minesweeping craft.

It is somewhat smaller than the MCM USV paraded in Beijing in September 2025. The two types both have a cockpit for optional crewing (a standard and pragmatic approach to this type of USV around the world), a remote weapon station and transom A-frame for launch and recovery of sonar towfish, sweeps or AUVs (autonomous underwater vehicles). This type (upper) is smaller than the one paraded in Beijing in 2025 (lower)

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