The U.S. ** Command said on the 22nd that in the waters of the Red Sea, the U.S. military successfully intercepted the Houthi unmanned aerial vehicle. The United States is still having a headache about how to deal with the small UAVs made by the Houthis, and the latest concept that China has shown in the Middle East this time is a completely different situation.
According to the U.S. "Navy News"**, China recently exhibited an unmanned submersible called "Thunder A2000" at a defense expo held in Saudi Arabia. The medium-sized unmanned combat boat was developed by China State Shipbuilding Corporation and is mainly used for nearshore marine operations.
According to the report, the "Thunder A2000" is a trimaran with a displacement of 280 tons and a total length of 45 meters. The three-body structure is adopted, which increases both the speed and the reflection surface of the radar waves, as well as the size of the hull, increasing the space on the deck, allowing it to accommodate more equipment and equipment. It is said that this "Thunder A2000" type drone uses two diesel engines, can reach a top speed of 35 knots, and has super maneuverability. It has a classic technology shape, and its wide hull gives it the ability to take off and land vertically.
Active phased array radar on a 20-ton JARI-USV multipurpose unmanned aerial vehicle.
In terms of quality, this "Thunder A2000" UAV is not particularly outstanding, but its equipment has attracted the attention of major American leaders. The report says that the missile is equipped with an advanced active phased array radar (AESA), which allows it to conduct all-round surveillance at sea and in the air. In fact, it is not surprising that even the 20-ton JARI-USV multipurpose fighter is equipped with an active phased array antenna and vertical launch equipment for the Chinese AARI-USV multipurpose unmanned boat.
8 anti-tank guns, 24 cruising missiles.
The Thunder A2000 "relies on 8 vertical launch units to achieve anti-aircraft attacks and can provide it with several types of medium-range and short-range anti-aircraft missiles. The United States speculates that if necessary, Russia will be equipped with more advanced and advanced No. 10 anti-aircraft missiles to enhance its air defense capability. This was followed by the "Thunder A2000", which had 24 radio transmitters on the left and 24 on the right. The report initially speculated that it was a teleporter jammer, but the Chinese side revealed that there were long-range missiles inside!
In other words, this "Thunder A2000" fighter can carry out first-class attacks on various targets on land and sea within a range of tens of kilometers. Whether it is Russia-Ukraine or the recent conflict in the Red Sea, it has proved that the high efficiency of cruise missiles, especially the coordinated operation of drones and drones, can often make the enemy fall into passivity. China has already exhibited various types of cruise missiles on many occasions, and in particular, the "Bee Cruise Missile" exhibited at the Zhuhai Air Show has the capability of coordinated operations, and it is conceivable that the "Thunder A2000" will be so powerful in combat effectiveness after carrying 48 cruise missiles.
In addition to this "Thunder A2000", there are several small UAVs, which are also placed here.
The most important point is that the "Thunder A2000" not only has the ability to cruise in the air, but also has the ability to cooperate with each other. According to "Navy News", in addition to its powerful firepower, the "Thunder A2000" also has good coordination and maneuvering capabilities, and can carry out air defense against adjacent ships within its jurisdiction, as well as efficient control of small unmanned boats. Around the "Thunder A2000" are some small unmanned ships, which have different purposes, can be used for anti-lightning and reconnaissance, theoretically speaking, they can be converted into a kind of suicide similar to unmanned submarines. By directing other UAVs to work in tandem with UAVs, the "Thunder A2000" will have a strength comparable to that of large aircraft carriers.
In addition, the "Thunder A2000" will also be equipped with a UAV with vertical take-off and landing capabilities, which can greatly improve the operational intelligence capability in the surrounding waters. According to reports, China plans to deploy the "Thunder A2000" to the sea, so that it will have the multi-function of carrying out reconnaissance missions in wartime and participating in "anti-interference area deterrence warfare" in wartime, and it can also operate alone or in combination. According to the report, the "Thunder A2000" is multi-purpose and high-power, "heralding the arrival of the era of unmanned combat", which will greatly improve China's maritime technological strength.
Some question how good the performance of Chinese drones really is. The author believes that if we say that in terms of traditional ** such as aircraft carriers and Aegis-class, China is still in its infancy, because it started late; China has also developed in the field of drones in recent years, and during the Russia-Ukraine conflict, China created an unmanned aerial vehicle.