A Chinese container feeder has been equipped with a truck-mounted catapult to launch combat drones, marking a new step in adapting merchant vessels for military use, reports Fort Lauderdale's Maritime Executive.
The Zhong Da 79 drew attention last month when it appeared in Shanghai with 60 missile launch tubes on deck, suggesting the ability to convert boxships into arsenal ships.
New images show most of those vertical launch cells have been removed and replaced with a mobile launch rail system mounted on high mobility trucks. A single drone fighter was positioned on the rail.
The system first appeared at the pier in late December. Radar units and close-in weapons systems remain installed on the vessel.
The launch track measures about 120-150 feet, reflecting the ship's limited deck space. Larger vessels could accommodate more modular launch trucks and a broader deployment of the concept.
Chinese aerospace firms have developed a range of fighter drones for naval aviation, already integrated into PLA Navy planning. The demonstration aboard Zhong Da 79 provided significant publicity, analysts noted.
https://www.shippingazette.com/news?news_id=9260100000239
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