The People’s Liberation Army-Navy (PLA-N)’s uncrewed surface vessel (USV) Orca attracted considerable interest at last month’s 15th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition (Airshow China). The Orcahas a trimaran hull structure with the superstructure designed to minimise its radar signature.
On Orca’s flight deck was a Z-5B/G small uncrewed helicopter. There is also a small docking bay at the stern, which can be used to launch and recover small underwater devices or various detection and reconnaissance sensors.
According to the PLA-N, Orca is 58 metres long, 23 metres wide and 500 tonnes in displacement. The USV is fitted with a diesel-electric dual-mode propulsion system, providing it with a maximum speed of 40 knots and has a range of more than 4,000 nautical miles. It is designed to undertake anti-surface, anti-air and anti-submarine warfare missions. The USV is equipped with four phased array radars and a general-purpose vertical launching system. She can carry rockets, anti-ship missiles, air defence missiles and remote-control weapon stations.
Orca first conducted trials in 2022. A PLA media release said,
“China has solved the problems plaguing large unmanned vessel development including large-scale platforms, modular functions, specialised payloads, diversified power sources and operational method coordination. It also demonstrates that China’s unmanned vessel design capability is approaching the ‘realm of freedom’. Getting rid of the human physiological limitations, the Orca can continue high-intensity operations and sail on the high seas for a long time, thereby effectively releasing the burden on personnel, freeing manpower from heavy, dangerous or boring tasks and concentrating resources on more critical strategic missions. Such platforms can regularly carry out non-military and military operations of low to medium intensity, such as patrol and guard around strategic points, base ports, islands and reefs, and key waterways.”
Source: PLA
