According to reports this month, the U.S. Navy has christened its first purpose-built Unmanned Surface Vessel, the Vanguard. The vessel was developed as part of the Pentagon's Ghost Fleet Overlord USV program. 

But the Navy's new USVs won't be the only uncrewed vessels to hit the waves. Chinese defense company Poly Technologies showcased the A2000 USV at the Defense Services Asia 2024 exhibition in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Manufactured by the China State Shipbuilding Corporation, the A2000 "Thunderer" sea-based drone is designed for Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance roles as well as Anti-Access/Area Denial operations. For the latter role, the Thunderer carries serious strike capabilities. It is armed with interceptor missiles and a 30mm cannon. It can be controlled from a shore-based station and employed in littoral waters.

The Thunderer USV, which has a length of 45 meters (147 feet) and a displacement of 280 tons, is powered by twin diesel engines with two controllable pitch propellers. It features a trimaran hull design that could lower its radar cross section, and it can reach a top speed of 35 knots. The uncrewed vessel is further reported to be equipped with Active Electronically Scanned Array radar for surveillance and intelligence gathering, while it is integrated with an eight-cell vertical launching system for surface-to-air missiles, and 24-cell launchers at both sides for rockets.

Despite its heavy firepower, it is not actually an anti-surface or anti-submarine-warfare drone. According to Janes, the A2000 is not fitted with any anti-ship missile launchers. However, the A2000 can act as a mothership to deploy small offensive drones. It can coordinate with smaller uncrewed vessels to conduct a swarm attack, provide air defense, or extend its operational range via satellite connectivity.

However, it does have a platform for launching a pair of Vertical Take-Off and Landing Unmanned Aerial Systems, which allow the USV to track detected contacts. Naval News previously reported that the launchers can also deploy loitering munitions – aka "kamikaze drones" – that can enhance the USV's offensive capabilities.

"Its ability to operate independently or as part of a networked fleet enhances China's ability to respond swiftly to evolving maritime challenges," Naval News wrote.

Attack of the Sea Drones

The A2000 Thunderer could be seen as presenting just as serious a threat to the U.S. Navy as the People's Liberation Army Navy's Type 003 Fujian aircraft carrier, which is now undergoing sea trials. USVs could serve as a force multiplier, and the U.S. Navy right now lags behind its potential adversaries in this capacity.

The Navy's efforts to build a fleet of USV and undersea drones continue to flounder as the Pentagon remains wedded to large shipbuilding projects, officials and company executives told Reuters earlier this month. This comes even as the lethal effectiveness of sea drones has been demonstrated in the Black Sea. Ukraine – a nation with no navy – has deployed remote-controlled speed boats and sea-skimming drones packed with explosives to sink Russian frigates and minesweepers.

The great danger is that China is now surging ahead with USVs, which could be the future of naval warfare.

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].

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