by78
General
It's a 300-ton unmanned boat. Do you have any concept of how small a 300-ton boat is? They are not firing hypersonic missiles from those dinky cells on that tiny boat.
For reference, here's a 400-ton patrol boat:
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Chinese USV Development Thread
- Thread starter Dfangsaur
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It's a 300-ton unmanned boat. Do you have any concept of how small a 300-ton boat is? They are not firing hypersonic missiles from those dinky cells on that tiny boat.
For reference, here's a 400-ton patrol boat:
Probably CM-501GA or other missile in the same series.
At best, only smaller subsonic cruise missiles can be reasonably fitted on ships (or more suitably-called, boats) of this small dimension and displacement.
For reference, one Type 22 missile boat with 8x YJ-83 only displaces around 220 tons.
However, I think that the Type 22 will be gradually replaced by unmanned missile boats in the coming years. Hell, these Type 22s can be handed over to the China Coast Guard as well.
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Yes thanks, I understand your point but I don’t think you don’t understand mine, or we have a disagreement regarding size probably.
First, my assumptions are that the canisters go down to the bottom of the hull, and that the canister length is 5x the UAV height, which I estimate to be 1.6m in height, giving a vertical space of 8m to fit a 7m UVLS system.
We have an unmanned USV, the placard in front of it calls it an unmanned combat surface vessel, not a patrol boat.
It has VLS cells, 8 are fitted but there is clearly space for 24. Judging by the size of the other kit on the model I estimate the VLS are 7m UVLS canisters
We know UVLS can fire hypersonics, so it is reasonable to conclude that these same canisters can also fire them, for example YJ-21 or 555.
There are also quite big flat panel radars, maybe S band and X band, these could be GaN and be able to support anti-air area defense.
It’s electricaly powered and fast, and has torpedos, and it has a huge flight deck that can support something thrice the size of what is displayed on the model, so it’s a hell of an ASW asset.
It is no doubt made from composite material which is light and stealthy and probably good against mines too.
It’s unmanned which makes it great for patrolling and picket duty, but it’s a bit of a disservice to call this beauty a patrol boat, it’s an USCV.
All this hinges on the actual size of those VLS canisters, and if they are infact UVLS or not.
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Too many assumptions.
We don't know whether those are UVLS canisters or not. Personally I see no indicators suggesting they are UVLS.
Furthermore, only the 9m long UVLS can fire the "YJ-20/21" hypersonic missile, and it's very very unlikely this USV has a 9m VLS of any sort given its size.
So the statement "if they can support a hypersonic missile it's incredible" is not sensible -- it's too enthusiastic and hopium.
Ok but how do you know the two models are displayed at the same scale? The A version may be a smaller scale. The one with VLS does not have a UAV.
All 3 unmanned boats have VLS, I am talking about the VLS in the A model in the image below (foreground). The VLS are housed in the deckhouse, they are poking out the very top, and the length of the VLS could be the full height of the boat.
In fact, I would say that this entire boat has been designed around the VLS.
I agree the boats are all different scales, but I am taking only about the A model and judging it’s scale by the UAV on the A model below, and comparing the UAV on the deck to the cells in the superstructure/deckhouse.
This is not a small UAV, hence this is not a small VLS.
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The scale does look different even between the pictures but I think you are taking the models too literally, the model showing empty space next to the canisters doesn't necessarily mean there is space there in the actual boat. If we go with the apparent concept of this being a mashup of the Type 22 and Type 56 then it may well only have 8 VLS for something like the YJ-83. It is possible the VLS may be something more than that but there is really no info to say it is likely. Is this thing propelled by water jets? Is there any mention of ASW arrays?
It is very unlikely the VLS is that long, and it would be very unconventional and unlikely for a USV to be installed with a large diameter and long length VLS for launching hypersonics.
You cannot reasonably speculate about the idea of this USV launching 9m UVLS hypersonic weapons with the current body of evidence, and it is inappropriate to entertain the idea as if it is a viable option right now.