Saturday, September 14, 2024
Close Encounters Of The Second Drone Carrier Kind
Most China Navy (PLAN) observers are concentrated on the "Type 076 Light Carrier/Drone Mothership" and for good reason, for it is the world's first UCAV/amphibious assault ship hybrid, weighting roughly 40,000 tons and now under construction in Shanghai (here).
Judging
by the latest image posted on Chinese Internet, the PLAN is building or
modifying a "drone carrier" based on the Type 074A Class LSM, weighing
roughly 800 tons, much smaller than her Type 076 sister. However, if
the program is successful, Chinese shipyards would surely produce a
large number of drones carriers in a short period of time, raising the
concept of "drone swarm" to a new height. Pun was, of course,
intended.
Type 074A Class LSM based "Drone Carrier"
The
addition of a "flat top" layer provides more storage space below deck,
while the open-ended design simplifies drone recovery operations.
Side view of a standard Type 074A LSM
Top view of a Type 074A LSM
An article impression of the Type 076 Light Carrier/Drone Mothership by 大包CG
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