China has launched a semi-autonomous unmanned research vessel designed to serve as a “mother ship” for more than 50 unmanned aircraft, surface vessels, and submersible drones.
The 290-foot Zhu Hai Yun is intended to deploy unmanned devices en masse for a 3D, networked observation system, above and below the surface – an “Intelligent and Agile Ocean Stereoscopic Observation System” covering an area about 50 nm in diameter.
Beijing has officially described it as a maritime research tool, but some experts have said the ship has the potential to be used as a military vessel.