China Is Building An Unmanned Naval Fleet

Huster-68

SCMP: China carries out first run of unmanned vessel as it seeks to boost maritime security

Huster-68’s main functions are to search for, investigate and block targets at sea and it could be used for law enforcement

China has conducted the first run of an unmanned surface vehicle in its latest move to build up a blue-water navy that can support its maritime security.

Military mouthpiece the People’s Liberation Army Daily reported on Friday that the Huster-68 had successfully conducted the run last month in Dongguan, Guangdong province.

The 6.8-metre vessel developed by Shenzhen Huazhong University of Science and Technology carried out a patrol around the Songmushan Reservoir and joined other unmanned surface vehicles in formations to encircle targets, the report said.

“The development team used the run to work on difficulties stemming from weak communication signals and problems to do with keeping in formation with the other unmanned surface vehicles,” it said.

The vessel is seen as an important part of protecting China’s maritime interests, managing the use of water resources and achieving its ambition of becoming a blue-water navy that can operate globally, the university said in a statement on its website.

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WNU Editor:  This is just the beginning. The Chinese have bigger dreams when it comes to this technology.