China turns cargo ships into mobile drone airbases
Illustrative photo: Chinese Navy (Getty Images)
China is turning cargo ships into combat drone carriers, equipping them with electromagnetic catapults that allow drones to be launched directly from the deck, The War Zone reports.
According to journalists, a civilian cargo vessel converted into an improvised combat ship was spotted at the Hudong-Zhonghua shipyard in Shanghai. Low-observable combat drones with large wingspans, similar to Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA), were also detected near the vessel.
Photo: China is converting cargo ships into carriers for strike drones
The War Zone reports that the ship was reconfigured in just a few days. Previously, it had been used as an arsenal ship carrying containerized weapons, but it has now been transformed into a multipurpose carrier for advanced drones.
Particular attention was drawn to a modular catapult system assembled from individual segments mounted on trucks. Each module connects to another, forming a scalable launch track. Such a system can be rapidly deployed or adapted for different missions.
After the catapult was installed, the ship’s structure was significantly modified. The number of vertical launch cells was reduced from 60 to 24 to make room for drone launches. At the same time, the vessel retained a 30-mm Type 1130 close-in weapon system, a large phased-array radar, as well as sensors and communications systems. This allows the ship to remain protected even in its new configuration.
Notably, a giant Type 076 Sichuan amphibious assault ship of the Chinese Navy is located nearby in a dry dock. It already features an integrated EMALS catapult capable of launching all types of drones. This may indicate a systematic Chinese approach to developing naval unmanned aviation.
In this way, China is demonstrating a new tactic: the rapid conversion of civilian vessels into military platforms capable of launching strike drones from the sea. This could significantly alter the regional balance of power and reshape approaches to naval warfare.
Earlier, China’s foreign minister stated plans for reunification with Taiwan and issued warnings to the United States.
It is therefore not surprising that China recently conducted prolonged live-fire drills around Taiwan, involving air, naval, and amphibious forces.
At the request of the US Congress, the Pentagon has also released a report detailing the capabilities of China’s military and the potential threat it poses to the United States.
