What Chinese Navy Planners Are Learning from Ukraine’s Use of Unmanned Surface Vessels – The Diplomat

When considering future warfare strategies, it is evident that militaries worldwide will look to learn from the Russia-Ukraine War. This includes tactics involving tanks, anti-ship cruise missiles, and drones. For the Chinese military, these lessons hold particular significance as the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) lacks recent combat experience and has relied heavily on Russian weapons and doctrine for modernization.

Chinese media coverage of the Ukraine conflict has been extensive, with a focus on understanding modern warfare tactics. While Chinese analysts have not criticized Russian military performance due to the China-Russia relationship, they are actively exploring the implications of the war. This series aims to evaluate Chinese assessments of the Ukraine conflict across various domains of warfare, providing Western analysts with valuable insights.

One significant development from the war is the success of Ukrainian unmanned surface vessel (USV) attacks on Russian naval targets, drawing attention from naval analysts globally, including in China. This has led to Russia adjusting its naval deployments in response to the threat posed by USVs.

Chinese naval analysts have highlighted the potential of USVs in modern naval warfare, noting their advantages such as concealment, low cost, destructive capability, and autonomous operation. They have also identified challenges in defending against USV attacks on port infrastructure and ships, recommending a multi-dimensional defense system.

Furthermore, Chinese analysts propose a consolidated strike system to counter USV threats, emphasizing the need for a multi-layered defense approach using advanced weaponry. The use of USVs in Ukraine has prompted discussions on how to protect naval assets and counter potential asymmetric threats.

The employment of USVs by Ukraine has implications for naval warfare, particularly in scenarios like a potential Taiwan invasion. This asymmetric threat posed by USVs could influence future naval strategies, especially in countering intervention from major powers. Chinese naval planners are likely considering the use of USVs to enhance their capabilities and address new challenges in maritime operations.