In a rare glimpse of Beijing’s naval innovation, the first clear photo of China’s secret trimaran ship has emerged. It combines the stealth capability of a submarine with the agility of a surface ship and is fueling worldwide speculation over the ambitions of the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN). The photo was probably taken at Guangzhou’s Huangpu Shipyard – the PLAN’s hub for frigates and corvettes. The photo shows a sleek, dark ship that has been shrouded in mystery since it was spotted by satellite in late October 2025. Naval Analyst H.I. Sutton, who first saw it under tarpaulin, describes it as a “submarine-ship hybrid”, about 65 meters (213 ft) in size – with stern outriggers attached to the sides of the thin central hull for stability.
Key features point to submersible capability: a compact sail (conning tower) for the snorkel/antenna, depth markings on the hull and sail that indicate partial/full submergence, and a rear propulsor that suggests pump-jets for quiet, high-speed operation (up to 30+ knots underwater). There is no visible conning hatch, which means it is autonomous without a crew, setting it up as a USV-UUV fusion – semi-submersible to move stealthily beneath the waves, while surfacing for efficiency. Huangpu’s history with semi-submersibles such as the Type-711 further strengthens this profile.
Due to the lack of official disclosure there has been much speculation on its role:
– Arsenal Ship: A stealthy missile platform that launches anti-ship/land-attack attacks via a hidden VLS before diving into the water – enhancing PLAN’s lethality without putting crewed ships at risk. No deck VLS seen yet, but modular design allows retrofit.
– Drone mothership: A forward “box” as a hangar for a USV, XLUUV, or VTOL UAV – similar to Ukraine’s drone carrier. The stern rail/catapult can deploy loitering munitions such as the Shaheed; Previous helipad not present but possible.
– Special Forces Insertion: Low-profile for coastal operations – discreet transport of troops/equipment across reefs/islands, similar to US Sealion or CCH ship. – Tech Testbed: Experimental for autonomy, propulsion, or hybrid hulls – Alignment with PLAN’s JARI-USV-A (300-ton trimaran from 2022) and “Killer Tiger” prototypes.
The exposure of this object hidden under tarpaulin signals China’s push for raw dominance, which could potentially change Indo-Pacific dynamics. As more photos emerge, the intention will become clearer: Is this a game-changer or just a distraction? The curtains are rising, but questions still remain.
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