China is developing a comprehensive naval defense system to counter swarms of low-cost unmanned aerial systems (UAS). Termed a “Great Wall” in the digital age, the initiative aims to detect and neutralize large numbers of drones before they can threaten warships. Published in Command Control & Simulation, the research highlights the growing vulnerability of conventional naval defenses to inexpensive, commercially available drones. Simultaneously, China is advancing its own drone swarm capabilities. The Zhu Hai Yun, launched in 2022, is a 290-foot (88-meter) drone “mothership” capable of carrying multiple unmanned platforms, remotely or manually operated. In 2024, the airborne mothership Jiu Tian was revealed, deploying up to 100 kamikaze drones with a 4,350-mile (7,000 km) range and 6.6-ton payload. Equipped with electro-optical/infrared sensors and surface radar, these systems support reconnaissance, cargo transport, disaster relief, and weapon deployment. The aircraft has an 82-foot wingspan, 52-foot length, and flight endurance exceeding 12 hours, representing China’s layered approach to autonomous naval defense and drone swarm operations.
