Forget Aircraft Carriers: China's Navy Has ORCA 'Drone' Combat Warships
At Airshow China, China unveiled the JARI-USV-A “Orca,” a large unmanned combat vessel (USV) with a 4,000-nautical-mile range designed for long-range strikes, air defense, anti-missile, and anti-submarine warfare.
What You Need to Know: At Airshow China, China unveiled the JARI-USV-A “Orca,” a large unmanned combat vessel (USV) with a 4,000-nautical-mile range designed for long-range strikes, air defense, anti-missile, and anti-submarine warfare.
-The 58-meter, 500-tonne USV could bolster the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) with its stealth capabilities, radar systems, and multi-role adaptability.
-Equipped with a Vertical Launch System, 57mm gun, SeaRAM missile defense, and launch deck for unmanned aerial vehicles, the Orca enhances China’s naval power as it plans for six aircraft carriers by the 2030s, addressing both military needs and potential manpower limitations from an aging population.
China Debuts New Unmanned Combat Vessel at Airshow China
The People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) pulled out all the stops on Tuesday, offering numerous aerial displays to open the 15th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition. The biennial airshow kicked off outside the city of Zhuhai in the Guangdong province – the first since Beijing lifted Covid-19 restrictions last year.
Attendees were treated to demonstrations that included four Chengdu J-20S Mighty Dragons flying in formation before engaging in various airborne maneuvers, followed by the aerial debut of the Shenyang J-35A, the carrier-based variant of the FC-31. While much of the focus has been on the latest aircraft – fitting as it is an "airshow" – China also used the biennial event to debut another military platform that could have Western observers worried.
"First time ever! China's large unmanned combat vessel, JARI-USV-A, also known as 'Orca,' is making its global debut at #AirshowChina in Zhuhai. This 58-meter, 500-tonne stealth USV boasts a 4,000-nautical-mile range and capabilities for long-range strikes, air defense, anti-missile, and anti-submarine warfare," the Ministry of National Defense (MND) of the People's Republic of China announced earlier this week.
The U.S. Navy is also developing an autonomous platform dubbed Orca, but it is an undersea drone, reported to be the size of a Mac truck.
What Do We Know?
No additional details were provided by the MND, but international military analyst firm Janes reported that the unmanned surface vessel (USV) introduced at Airshow China "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."
A video that accompanied the MND statement suggested that the Orca will utilize a trimaran form factor, and Janes further suggested it could feature "reduced radar cross section (RCS) surfaces," and compared the design to that of French shipbuilder Constructions Mécaniques de Normandie (CMN) Naval's Ocean Eagle 43 ocean patrol trimaran.
The unmanned vessel could be employed as a force multiplier for the People's Liberation Army Navy's (PLAN's) already large surface fleet. It could employ its radar to aid in the tracking and identifying of enemy aerial threats, and be used to screen for surface and undersea threats. Also noteworthy is that the USV is equipped with a rear deck that could allow for the launch of recovery of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAS), which could enhance the Orca's surveillance abilities.
Army Recognition's analysis compared it to the U.S. Navy's Independence-class littoral combat ships (LCS) and suggested it would offer many of the same offensive capabilities but in a far more effective platform. The Orca is well armed – and according to the analysis is equipped with a Vertical Launch System (VLS), 57mm gun, SeaRAM missile defense, and adaptable mission modules – allowing it to take on a variety of roles.
One other point to note is that while the PLAN continues to expand in size, China's population isn't doing the same. As the PRC faces a declining population as it expands its military reach, it may need to increasingly depend on unmanned platforms to complement its manned warships and submarines. Beijing has set a goal of operating at least six aircraft carriers by the mid-2030s, and those large capital ships will need support vessels – and while China is a populous nation, its manpower is far from unlimited.
The Orca may therefore be only the first USV that will be a force multiplier for the PLAN, and it won't be the only one.
Author Experience and Expertise: Peter Suciu
Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer. He has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers, and websites with over 3,200 published pieces over a twenty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: [email protected].
Image Credit: Creative Commons and/or Shutterstock.
From the Vault
