Orcas are known for their creative hunting techniques. Sometimes the killer whales flush their prey into the sea with waves of ice floes, at other times they circle prey fish and drive them into a corner. Like their animal role models, the killer whale on the sidelines of the Zhuhai Airshow the new Chinese drone triamaran of the same name is designed to hunt quickly and successfully.
The “Orca” is a futuristic-looking technology carrier with a length of around 58 meters, 500 tons and stealth characteristics, which is designed to operate autonomously with the help of artificial intelligence and attack potential targets from its vertical launch pads with guided weapons and cruise missiles. The boat also has a 30-millimetre cannon, primarily for close-range self-protection, and a landing pad for helicopters and drones has been installed in the stern area. https://militaeraktuell.at/brigadier-reinhard-kraft-wechselt-ins-bmlv/ The aim is likely to be to develop the concept further in the direction of escort missions for conventional warships and to gradually transfer the tasks of today’s destroyers to the “Orcas” at a later stage of development: escort and protection tasks, anti-submarine warfare, mine laying and much more. The maximum speed of the USV (Unmanned Surface Vehicle) specified by China is said to be 42 knots (77 km/h), with an operational range of around 4,000 nautical miles.
