Small Lightfish naval drone from American Seasats managed to approach point-blank modern Chinese Type 052D missile destroyer (Luyang III per NATO classification) — this episode occurred over a month ago, June 16 this year, when PLAN (People's Liberation Army of China) Navy ship was 105 km northwest of Luzon island in Philippine waters.
Reuters reports this, which obtained at its disposal video made directly from Lightfish naval drone camera — on which one can see how it managed to genuinely closely approach Chinese destroyer and carefully examine it up close. Publication independently confirmed video authenticity and identified Chinese ship that caught naval drone's eye.
Read more: Poland Held Same Weapons Kit as Ukraine to Intercept russian Kh-101, Two F-16s, Two MiG-29s, Saab 340 AEW, Yet Missile Flew 100km Deep and Exploded
Moreover, this drone’s manufacturer, Seasats company, emphasized that over recent years such episodes are not rare for their drones, and that besides Type 052D destroyer, their naval drones also encountered such PLAN ships as Type 055 super-destroyers, as well as Type 056 corvette.
Defense Express notes Lightfish naval drone that managed to approach Chinese destroyer point-blank is genuinely small in size — has length of 3.5 m and mass of 138 kg. However, with quite good endurance level — company states it can remain at sea up to 6 months.
Such small drone hardly posed any threat to Chinese destroyer — but at same time, such assets can quite spy on enemy fleet. For example, Lightfish can be equipped with various cameras, electronic reconnaissance and EW assets and active and passive sonar systems.
It remains unknown whether Lightfish naval drone remained unnoticed by Chinese destroyer crew or they managed to identify it visually or with available standard assets. At the same time, PRC at recent press conference emphasized need to avoid approaching PLAN warships, as "this may lead to accidental incidents at sea or in air."
In context of this story worth also mentioning that now first confirmations appeared that same Type 052D PLAN destroyers now can use YJ-20 hypersonic anti-ship missiles, The War Zone reports.
Footage of this missile launches from Type 052D destroyer appeared online, so it turns out PRC significantly expands quantity of ships that could use this weaponry.
Previously Defense Express reported that after wild failures, ARRW hypersonic missile important against russia and PRC first appeared on B-1B Lancer.
Read more: What Are Strange Wing Bulges on FP-1 Drone, What Could Be Hidden Inside Them, What Are They For?
