China’s naval expansion continues to surprise onlookers. Less visible, until now, have been developments in underwater drones. That is about to change with an upcoming military parade in Beijing in September. Two new extra-large drone submarines (XLUUVs) will be showcased.
China seeks a strategic advantage in underwater drone technology. While the surface navy is playing catch-up by emulating the still more powerful U.S. Navy, in the underwater realm China is investing more. In particular it is developing extra-large uncrewed underwater vehicles (XLUUVs) more quickly than other navies. The world has largely been oblivious to this, but a major military parade in Beijing will change this. China’s XLUUVs have arrived.
China will mark the 80th anniversary of the end of Second Sino-Japanese War with a grand military parade in Beijing on September 3. A similarly large parade marked the 70th university in 2015. The Chinese Ministry of Defence has already claimed that the parade will “display improved weapons, equipment”. Now images of rehearsals, shared on Chinese social media, have revealed that at least two types of extra-large uncrewed underwater vehicles (XLUUVs) will be among the new systems.
Naval News has been following the progress of China’s ambitious XLUUV program since 2022, and several types have been reported first here. Yet these two new systems will be fresh and it will be the first time that they have been seen in public. It likely reflects the winners in China’s extensive trials program.
Big scale of developments
The new XLUUVs are approximately 18-20 meters long and are generally torpedo-like, with pump jet propulsion. This makes then similar in overall size and shape to the Russian Poseidon nuclear-armed nuclear-powered torpedo. It is however too much of a leap to connect the two types at this stage.
While there has been commentary on nuclear-propulsion for torpedo-like weapons in Chinese media and academic circles, these XLUUVs better match types already observed being tested in China. The country’s Navy (PLAN) has the largest XLUUV program of any nation with at least 5 types in the water for several years.
It is almost certain that the XLUUVs seen being tested in China are not nuclear powered. So while it remains to be seen whether either of these XLUUVs is connected to the rumours of nuclear propulsion, it seems less likely at this point. Instead they reflect progress in operationalising the wider XLUUV efforts.
We assess it likely that these XLUUVs will be models previously observed in satellite imagery.
AJX002 Underwater Drone
One of the underwater drones types has AJX002 painted on the side in large white letters. It is typical of weapon systems to have their designation painted on the side, in Roman letters, for parades. Numerous missiles and other weapon systems have been revealed this way and analysts have learnt to rely on these events. Therefore ‘AJX002’ is likely that this is a reliable designation. Exactly what “AJX” denotes however is unclear at the time of writing.
The tank transporter used to tow the new underwater vehicles allows us to estimate their size. The AJX002 is around 18-20 meters (59-65 feet) long and 1-1.5m (3-5 feet) in diameter. It has four lifting lugs along the hull which reveals that it is normally lowered into the water by crane. This is consistent with XLUUVs observed undergoing trials at Sanya and Yulin naval bases in the South Chinas Sea, and near Dalian in the Yellow Sea. Two lugs close together amidships also suggests that the vessel can be broken down into two parts for transport.
An even larger design will also be paraded
At least six XLUUVs have been seen in the parade rehearsal; four of the AJX002 model and two of another slightly larger design.
This second design was under a tarpaulin so its designation text and other details were hidden. However we can tell that it is about the same length as the AJX002 but around twice the diameter. It has at least two sets of masts near the stern, and a similar pump jet. It differs significantly from the AJX002 in that it has ‘X’ form rudders instead of the conventional cruciform (‘+’) arrangement.
The world will learn on September 3 what these XLUUVs look like up close. Possibly new insights will be gained, but the overall message already seems clear. China is investing in XLUUVs at a scale unrivalled among other navies, and is now finally ready to reveal this to the world.
