China Presents 40-hour Endurance Anti-submarine Drone at Dubai Airshow

China has introduced the Wing Loong X anti-submarine drone at the Dubai Airshow 2025, presenting what AVIC says is the world’s first unmanned aircraft capable of fully autonomous anti-submarine warfare.

Earlier, crewed aircraft and helicopters were used for submarine detection.

AVIC claims the drone can fly for 40 hours and operate at 10,000 meters while carrying sonobuoys, marine sensors, and lightweight torpedoes. The drone uses onboard AI to analyse sonar and radar data, classify underwater targets, and guide responses with limited human involvement. With a wingspan of more than 20 meters, the platform can maintain near-continuous surveillance over maritime chokepoints — something manned aircraft like the U.S. Navy’s P-8 Poseidon cannot sustain due to crew requirements and operational costs.

The Wing Loong X’s ability to deploy sonobuoys is a major shift, as these sensors have traditionally been used only by manned aircraft. AVIC claims the drone can detect, track, and, if armed, attack submarines autonomously. The company also highlights swarm operations, where multiple drones combine sensor data to monitor large sea areas for extended periods.

At the Airshow China 2024, the Wing Loong-X was displayed with its full suite of anti-submarine capabilities, equipped with various payloads such as sonar buoy pods, torpedoes, air-to-air missiles, and anti-ship missiles, the Global Times noted at the event.

If China fields dozens of these drones at once, submarines operating in contested waters such as the South China Sea could face far greater exposure. Persistent airborne surveillance could erode the stealth advantage long relied upon by U.S. and allied submarines.