"Mother ship" like no other: the Chinese development that leaves the US far behind

New satellite images reveal that China is building the world's first underwater mother ship, capable of carrying and launching massive unmanned submarines. The submarines, already tested in the South China Sea, are significantly larger than their American counterpart and mark a growing technological gap.

New satellite images, captured by the American defense intelligence company "Ventor" and published in the "Daily Mail", reveal that China is building the world's first underwater mother ship at a shipyard in Shanghai. The red vessel, currently under construction, will be able to carry at least four massive autonomous submarines of the XXLUUV type (extra-large unmanned underwater vehicle) and deploy them across the ocean. The submarines, first revealed in January 2025, have already been tested by Beijing in the South China Sea, off the coast of Hainan Island. They are 35 to 45 meters long, much larger than the US Navy's Boeing Orca XLUUV drone submarine, which is about 16 meters long. The ship is expected to include an internal hangar for storing the submarines and an additional hangar near the bow for transporting a helicopter. A security expert interviewed by the Naval News website estimated that the large unmanned submarine could carry a larger payload over a distance of 18,000 km. China is the world's largest manufacturer of warships, with 405 ships compared to 295 for the United States. The article notes the ambition of Chinese President Xi Jinping to bring Taiwan under Chinese control, and the expansion of Chinese presence in the South China Sea amid territorial disputes with the Philippines, Vietnam, Brunei, and Taiwan.