China unveils ‘Killer Whale’ stealth drone ship
The vessel which has a range of more than 7,000km will go on display alongside a collection of aerial drones at the Zhuhai air show
The ship will go on display at the Zhuhai air show, which opens on Tuesday, alongside a collection of aerial drones.
The trimaran, which was built by the China State Shipbuilding Corporation, has a displacement of 500 tonnes and is capable of “operating on open sea for a long time”, according to the city’s official news portal.
It said the “Killer Whale” has a dual diesel and electric propulsion system, which allows it to reach a maximum speed of more than 40 knots (74km/h) with a range of more than 4,000 nautical miles (7,400km).
It described the vessel as an “all-round warrior” that can carry a range of weapons – including rockets, anti-ship missiles and ship-to-air missiles – and is equipped with a take-off and landing pad for helicopters at the rear.
The website said the vessel could be independently deployed and carry out patrols, anti-submarine operations and air defence work as well as rescue operations.
Liang Guoliang, a Hong Kong-based military commentator, said Beijing wanted to turn Zhuhai “a one-stop destination” for countries looking to buy Chinese military technology.
