China Shows off Naval Drones at IDEX 2023

China's Poly Technologies demonstrated an A45 unmanned combat boat, together with other advanced surface drones including the A300 unmanned mine-hunter boat and the A2000 unmanned multirole boat at IDEX 2023 event in Abu Dhabi.

The A45 sailed in narrow water lanes, displaying autonomous obstacle evasion, close-in reconnaissance and target tracking, according to a company press release.

The A45 has a length of 7.5 meters, a width of 2.7 meters and a displacement of 3.7 tons with a maximum speed of 40 knots. Sailing at 25 knots, its standard range can reach 280 nautical miles. The ship drone can adapt to sea state 4, and can operate fully autonomously, semi-autonomously, through remote control or manually, its maker said.

The drone can be equipped with optical and electronic sensors, radar systems, guns and missile launchers, and it can be deployed for alert patrols, as well as reconnaissance and precision strike missions around islands, reefs and maritime borders as an armed reconnaissance ship drone.

It can also provide fire support to naval forces by blocking small to medium-sized maritime targets from approaching.