China’s Mysterious Trimaran Warship For Uncrewed Naval Warfare Unveiled by Satellite

A mysterious trimaran-hulled vessel has recently drawn attention at the Huangpu shipyard in Guangzhou, China—one of the nation’s major naval construction centers known for producing frigates and corvettes for the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN). What makes this vessel unusual is not only its hidden construction under tarpaulins, a rare sight in Chinese shipyards, but also its distinctive shape, which seems to merge characteristics of surface warships and submarines. Satellite imagery and preliminary analysis indicate that it could be an uncrewed, high-speed platform, reflecting the growing ambition and sophistication of China’s naval research and development programs.

The vessel, estimated to be about 65 meters in length, features a long, narrow hull with trimaran outriggers at the stern, suggesting a design optimized for stability at high speed. Its rounded lower hull resembles a submarine, while the small and narrow superstructure implies minimal crew accommodation or possibly a fully autonomous design. Such a configuration is consistent with next-generation unmanned surface combatants—vessels designed for stealth, speed, and flexible mission profiles without traditional crew requirements.

One leading theory among defense analysts is that the vessel represents a long-rumored semi-submersible arsenal ship. This concept, circulating in Chinese defense circles since around 2017, envisions a vessel capable of carrying a large battery of land-attack cruise missiles or anti-ship weapons, acting as a floating missile magazine. The ship’s dark grey or black paint scheme—uncommon for standard surface ships—further supports the theory of a semi-submersible role, potentially optimized for reduced radar visibility.

If true, this new vessel could feature a Vertical Launch System (VLS) beneath its flat forward deck, allowing it to deploy a range of long-range precision missiles. In line with the arsenal ship concept, such a vessel would not require its own targeting sensors or radar; instead, it would rely on data links and external cueing from other ships, aircraft, or satellites, enabling it to strike targets while remaining partially hidden or submerged. The internal structure would likely include ballast tanks to allow controlled submersion for stealth operations or missile deployment.

However, due to the vessel’s concealment, no clear imagery of its deck layout or possible missile silos has yet emerged. This leaves room for alternative explanations about its true nature. One possibility is that the vessel serves as a drone carrier, capable of deploying large multirotor or fixed-wing drones for reconnaissance, electronic warfare, or strike missions. The box-like section on its forward hull could serve as a drone hangar or launch bay, similar to the modular drone systems used on smaller uncrewed surface vessels (USVs) seen in conflicts such as Ukraine. Yet, the scale of the vessel raises questions—its displacement appears excessive for a drone mothership alone.

Another possibility is that it is a transport or support vessel designed to carry smaller surface or underwater drones—extending the range of extra-large unmanned underwater vehicles (XLUUVs) or fast-attack USVs. In such a role, the trimaran configuration would provide stability for launch and recovery operations in open waters. This would align with China’s increasing interest in distributed unmanned operations, allowing multiple autonomous platforms to work cooperatively across the maritime domain.

The Huangpu shipyard’s history of building semi-submersible transport ships—like the Type-711 ‘Yinmahu’—adds weight to this hypothesis. However, the presence of stern outriggers complicates interpretations, as they would likely interfere with traditional loading or docking arrangements, suggesting a more specialized purpose.

Regardless of its exact mission profile, the appearance of this vessel underscores the rapid pace of naval experimentation and innovation in China. The country’s shipbuilding capacity, supported by vast resources and a highly skilled engineering workforce—many trained in Western naval architecture programs—has enabled it to move from theoretical concepts to working prototypes far faster than most other nations.

While Western navies continue to deliberate over the future of arsenal ships and uncrewed naval combatants, China appears to be building and testing them in real conditions. Whether this mysterious trimaran becomes a semi-submersible missile platform, a drone carrier, or an entirely new class of hybrid warship, it highlights a clear trend: China’s naval innovation is increasingly bold, practical, and far ahead in prototyping next-generation maritime warfare systems.