China's new large unmanned surface vessel, JARI-USV-A, which was unveiled at Airshow China 2024. (VCG via Getty Images)
China has unveiled a large unmanned surface vessel (USV) as part of its Airshow China 2024 exhibition, which is being held in Zhuhai from 12 to 17 November.
It has been dubbed the ‘JARI-USV-A large unmanned combat vessel' and it displaces 500 tonnes, read a statement published by China's Ministry of National Defense (MND) on 11 November.
An alternative name for the USV is ‘Orca' and it has an overall length of 58 m and a range of 4,000 n miles, the statement added.
It bears close resemblance to the 340 tonne USV concept, the model for which was first unveiled by China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) at the World Defense Show (WDS) in March 2022, which took place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Accompanying the MND statement is a video of the USV, which indicates that it features a trimaran form factor with reduced radar cross section (RCS) surfaces.
This form factor is similar to French shipbuilder Constructions Mécaniques de Normandie (CMN) Naval's Ocean Eagle 43 ocean patrol trimaran that has adopted a slender hull with twin floats design, albeit being about twice as large.
The JARI-USV-A is equipped with an integrated mast housing electro-optical sensors, a navigation radar, a rangefinder device, electronic support measures (ESM) transponders, and multiple radar arrays.
The presence of these radar array panels suggests that the USV is capable of tracking and identifying aerial objectives in addition to surface targets.
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