Introducing the “Killer Whale”: China Navy’s Innovative Trimaran Drone Ship
An unusual trimaran drone ship was seen at Guangzhou Shipyard earlier this year and has now made its public debut. At the Zhuhai Airshow on Friday, the PLA Navy introduced a new surface combatant named the “Killer Whale.” This miniature warship operates similarly to the US Navy’s Independence-class Littoral Combat Ship but is smaller and may be unmanned.
Chinese media reports indicate that the vessel measures 190 feet in length, displaces between 300 and 500 tonnes, can reach speeds of up to 40 knots, and has a range of approximately 4 000 nautical miles. It is designed to carry various weaponry, including anti-ship missiles, anti-aircraft missiles, torpedoes, and a drone helicopter on its rear deck.
Source: Chinese social media
One of its most notable features is the revival of the “modular mission package” concept, which was first implemented with the Littoral Combat Ship in the 2010s. This concept aimed to create a multipurpose vessel capable of carrying interchangeable weapon packages for different missions, such as mine warfare, anti-submarine warfare, and surface warfare. However, the US Navy struggled to effectively develop this concept, resulting in each LCS vessel being permanently equipped with specific gear.
Local media report that the Killer Whale’s mission capabilities include surveillance patrols, surface warfare, anti-submarine operations, and air defense. It can also be reconfigured for tasks like sea battlefield environment surveys and rescue operations, making it a versatile asset.
Although designed by CSSC’s specialists in autonomous vessels and classified as unmanned, the Killer Whale features a prominent wraparound bridge deck for human operators. Naval analysts have noted its resemblance to Indonesia’s manned Klewang-class fast attack craft. While the Klewang-class is longer, narrower, and has a shorter range and payload, it shares a comparable top speed and a similar appearance.
Illustrations and scale models of the Killer Whale have been showcased at Chinese defense trade shows over the past two years under the program name “JARI-USV-A.” Open-source intelligence analysts recently identified the full-size prototype in satellite images taken at CSSC Guangzhou Shipyard last month.
