China fitting cargo ships with armed drones, missile launchers? Leaked photos spark buzz

An image of an alleged Chinese merchant ship armed with drones and missile launchers has surfaced online creating a lot of buzz among netizens and causing concern in defence circles about the militarisation of merchant ships. As per several reports, the merchant ship, which was seen on maritime tracker sites as Zhongda 79, was located near the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) Type 076-class Sichuan (51) landing helicopter dock, Beijing’s latest amphibious assault ship equipped with an electromagnetic catapult capable of launching fixed-wing drones. This comes in the backdrop of China stepping up military activity around the self-governing island of Taiwan, which it claims as its own.

As per IANS and SCMP reports, the image shows the ship sporting a modular electromagnetic catapult system, which can be used to launch fighter drones. The photos also show vertical launch systems, rotary phased array radars, over-the-horizon radars and 30mm close-in auto cannon system.

According to USNI News, the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) is the biggest Navy in the world, having the largest number of warships across the world. PLAN has more than 370 plus ships, a figure that has surpassed the US’ total of 290 military vessels.


The US Navy continues to hold a technological advantage, but that margin is widely believed to be shrinking rapidly.


Meanwhile, China’s fleet of more than 4,000 merchant vessels, many constructed in dual-use shipyards to military standards, could be rapidly converted to provide warship-like capabilities, including drone-equipped platforms.

In China’s case, these emerging container-ship drones could serve multiple roles. According to the report, one of the greatest advantages aircraft bring to a ship or fleet is their ability to dramatically extend sensor range.

The drones could also conduct strike missions, ranging from simple, slow, one-way attacks to fast, jet-powered operations, and then release large swarms of inexpensive, short-range attack drones capable of overwhelming even sophisticated defensive systems.

Although the date the photographs were taken has not been verified, the location has been identified as Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding’s yard in Shanghai. The yard is currently building the Sichuan, a Type 076 amphibious assault ship that is believed to have completed its second round of sea trials this month.


One image shows a cargo vessel berthed close to the Sichuan.

Other photographs depict several containers aboard the freighter bearing the slogan: “Plan for the maritime revival of the Chinese nation and the community of shared future for mankind in the ocean.”

However, no official Chinese government documents have referenced the phrase “maritime revival of the Chinese nation,” though Beijing has long articulated its ambition to become a “maritime power.” The latter portion of the slogan appears to be a maritime adaptation of President Xi Jinping’s broader concept of a “community of shared future for mankind.”

In the absence of official confirmation or additional details, some social media users have questioned the authenticity of the images, suggesting they may depict a film set rather than an actual vessel conversion.

Even so, the photographs have sparked speculation among military analysts about China’s capacity to repurpose civilian ships for military purposes.