Wake-Up Call from the Far East: China Builds World's First Mother Ship for 45-Meter Submarines

TVS News AI, editorially supervised, presents Wake-Up Call from the Far East: China Builds World's First Mother Ship for 45-Meter Submarines.

Satellite images reveal a new Chinese warship that, according to Focus, is intended to play a uniquely novel role in naval warfare: as a specialized mother ship for unmanned submarines up to 45 meters in length — deployable far from China's coast.

According to the report, the images reveal the world's first vessel of its kind: a floating base that would dramatically extend the operational range of very large underwater drones. China could thereby shift its military reach far beyond its own coastal approaches.

What the satellite images show

Photographed from space, the ship shows structures, according to Focus, that suggest a maintenance and launch platform for oversized unmanned submersibles. At up to 45 meters in length, the drone submarines surpass many manned conventional submarines in size.

The key difference from classic supply ships or submarine tenders: it is not about transporting one's own vessels, but rather refueling, servicing, and launching autonomous underwater vehicles as combat-ready reconnaissance or weapons platforms far from home.

Strategic significance for the Western Pacific

With such a vessel, China could expand its military presence in the Pacific and beyond without needing its own bases near potential conflict zones. Unmanned submarines can be sent into contested waters more riskily — no crew is lost if one is destroyed.

At the same time, the platform shifts the logic of naval warfare: maintenance, data analysis, and redeployment of the drones all take place on board. The mother ship becomes an autonomous, mobile base for a new type of underwater drone.

What is still missing

Focus cites satellite images but provides no official statements from the Chinese government or navy about the vessel. There are also no confirmed details about the armament, specific operational area, or operational status of the 45-meter drones.