수상전투함 무인전투함을 비밀리에 시험중인 중국

[위종민]

Chinese Testing Experimental Armed Drone Ships at Secret Naval Base - USNI News

대련 근처의 부두에서 중국이 대형 무인수상함 2척을 시험중인 광경이 위성사진으로 찍혔습니다. 

이 부두는 2016년에 착공돼 1년 후 완공됐으며 그 뒤 인민해방군 해군이 간헐적으로 이용중이라고 합니다. 아마도 단기간 훈련이나 연습 지원 용도의 보조기지로 보이네요. 소평도 잠수함기지에서 9마일 가량 떨어져 있으며  035 밍급 잠수함이 밸러스트 테스트를 하는 광경도 찍힌 바 있습니다. 또한 2020년 JARI로 알려진 무인수상함이 목격된 민간요트아레나에서 1마일 떨어져 있습니다. 

JARI 무인수상함은 2018년 모델이 공개된 뒤 2019년 8월 프로토타입이 진수됐으며 20201년 1월 해상시험을 실시했습니다. 이 무인수상함엔 대공미사일이 장착될 VLS와 경어뢰 발사관 2기, 위상배열레이더와 전자광학장치, 소나 등이 달려 미니 구축함이라고 불렸다고 하네요. 

이번에 공개된 무인수상함은 JARI와 전체적으로 유사해 보입니다. 상부구조가 비슷하며 동일한 통신 레이돔이 장착돼 있고 JARI처럼 양현에 어뢰발사관이 보입니다만, JARI보다 더 커져서 길이가 50피트에서 70피트로 길어졌습니다. 또한 JARI의 세미 카타마란 선체에서 일반적인 단동형 선체로 바뀌었습니다. 

또한 대형 카타마란 선체의 무인수상함 1척이 같이 공개됐으며, 길이는 70피트로 유사합니다. 

Chinese Testing Experimental Armed Drone Ships at Secret Naval Base

Overview of the facility. H I Sutton Photo Illustration Satellite image ©2021 Maxar Technologies used with permission

In front of scenic cliffs and an ornamental European-style windmill is a secret People’s Liberation Army Navy pier. Here, at a former tourist resort on China’s northern coast, is where the PLAN is developing some of its most secretive, and previously unreported, naval programs, USNI News has learned.

The pier near Dalian is where China is testing its large uncrewed surface vessels (USVs), according to satellite photos provided to USNI News by Maxar and an analysis of open-source intelligence.

Construction of the new pier started in early 2016 and took about a year, according to satellite photos. Since then it has been used intermittently by the PLAN. When in use, two large work barges are moored alongside to provide basic facilities for crews and support staff. The facility itself has only the most basic semblance of a military base. Taken together this suggests that it is an auxiliary facility, used to support short-term trials and exercises.

Submarines have also been observed at the pier. On one occasion, a Type-035 Ming Class boat was seen performing pier-side ballast tests, according to photos provided to USNI News by Maxar. The facility may be used as overspill for the nearby Xiaopingdao naval base.

The new base’s status as an auxiliary site brings benefits as an uncrewed surface vessels (USVs) testbed like being further from main naval bases, giving the unmanned more space to operate safely. The site is just nine miles from the submarine base at Xiaopingdao, and 5 miles as the crow flies from Dalian. And what may be more significant is that it’s only a mile from a civilian yacht arena where a USV was seen in 2020. That USV, known as the ‘JARI’, is similar to one of the two new USVs seen at the pier.

One of the two new Uncrewed Surface Vessels (USV) is similar to the JARI type previously seen, but is significantly larger. This may reflect a maturing of the Chinese Navy (PLAN)’s USV development programs. H I Sutton Photo Illustration Satellite image ©2021 Maxar Technologies used with permission

The JARI, possibly referencing the Jiangsu Automation Research Institute, is an noteworthy USV in its own right. The PLAN first revealed it as a model in 2018, launched a prototype in August 2019 and conducted sea trials in January 2020. The small 50 foot-long craft has been described as a mini-destroyer because of its ambitious weapons and sensor fit. With a remote weapons station (RWS), it is intended to be armed with a small vertical launch system (VLS) for surface to air missiles and two lightweight torpedo tubes. Sensors include phased-array radars, electro-optical devices and sonar.

The new unreported USV has a similar overall form to JARI. It has a similar superstructure and appears to have the same communications radome over the transom. It also has what appears to be openings for torpedo tubes on each side, like the JARI. But the new USV is much larger than the JARI. It is about 70 feet long compared to 50 feet. The superstructure is generally more substantial. The lower hull may have been changed to a simple monohull configuration compared to the JARI’s semi-catamaran.

Submarines have been observed using the pier for short periods. On this occasion, on November 30 2020, a Type-035 Ming Class is captured by one of Maxar’s satellites performing ballast tests. H I Sutton Photo Illustration Satellite image ©2021 Maxar Technologies used with permission

The JARI was developed by CSSC (China State Shipbuilding Corporation), specifically by their No. 702 Research Institute and No. 716 Research Institute. By extension, this new type is from the same lineage.

The other unreported USV is a large catamaran, also with a length of approximately 70 feet. This is a popular configuration for USVs and few deatils about the USV are apparent beyond the hullfrom. Its proximity to the ‘JARI’ based model suggests comparative testing, so it may be generally similar.

The original JARI can be seen as unrealistically over-armed. The new larger version may have a simplified mission with a narrower set of weapons. For example, it is unclear whether a gun is mounted because the forward deck appears clear. This may reflect a maturing of ideas, with USVs becoming more closely aligned to realistic concept of operations.

HI Sutton Image, used with permission

China has a significant number of USV projects. Several have been revealed at arms shows, possibly reflecting export models. Others, such as a copy of the U.S. Navy’s Sea Hunter, have only been observed in open source intelligence. However there are no signs of the PLAN testing the ‘Sea Hunter’ style USV, so it is possible that it, too, is a purely commercial venture. But the vessels observed at this new facility have not been revealed. This suggests that they are the PLAN’s main USV projects intended for home use.

Most leading powers are testing unmanned naval technology, but China has only revealed some of its programs. The two observed at the pier are generally larger and more robust. This points to the fast pace of Chinese research and development.

The emergence of the new facility shows the Chinese are putting a previously unknown emphasis on armed uncrewed systems as a key developmental effort.

[백선호]

USV는 유인 수상함과 데이터링크 항상 연결하려면 수평선 너머로 나갈 수 없을 것인데 이 문제는 하늘에 항상 중계하는 UAV를 띄워 해결하려나요?

[위종민]

위성통신은 대역폭이나 핑이 많이 떨어지겠죠? 저런 공격 용도면 아무래도 공중에 중계기를 많이 띄워야 될 것 같습니다.

[백선호]

배보다는 빠르게 움직이는 MQ-9 리퍼도 위성통신으로 관제하는데 배도 가능할 듯 합니다.

[엽군]

오오... -.- MAXAR 위성영상 해상도 좋네요. WV-3려나...