Picture: "Lookout II" is China's first guided missile unmanned boat and the second unmanned boat in the world to successfully test-fire a missile/Internet picture

China's first guided missile unmanned boat "Lookout II" made its debut recently. This type of unmanned boat is equipped with optoelectronic and radar systems and quadruple missile launchers to perform maritime patrols and enemy reconnaissance. It can carry out precise strikes against small and medium-sized targets at sea and on shore, and can carry out cluster incapacitating strikes against large targets. At the same time, China is developing and testing its first amphibious high-speed unmanned boat and its first multi-purpose unmanned combat boat. Missile unmanned boats have enriched the navy's ship lineup and have many important values ​​for improving the navy's maneuverable covert attack, near-shore defense, air defense and anti-submarine capabilities.

Unmanned operation is an important trend in the development of international weapons and equipment in recent years. Aerial drones and land-based unmanned combat vehicles have been put into actual combat use. In comparison, the development of unmanned combat boats at sea has been relatively slow. The concept of maritime unmanned boats was first produced in the United States, but currently small unmanned boats are mainly used for patrol purposes. The "Sea Hunter" used in the military field is in the testing stage. Russia also stated at the "Army-2018" International Military Technology Forum in Moscow in August this year that it would develop unmanned boats. Previously, the Israeli "Sea Knight" missile unmanned boat was the only unmanned boat in the world to successfully test-fire a missile.

Equipped with a quadruple missile launcher

The "Lookout II" integrated missile launcher is China's first missile unmanned boat, filling the domestic technology gap. The boat successfully conducted its first missile test in October and hit the bullseye, making it the second unmanned boat in the world to successfully test a missile after Israel.

As a result of military-civilian integration, "Lookout II" was jointly developed by the Xi'an Modern Control Technology Research Institute (the 203rd Research Institute of China Ordnance Industry Group), the Huazhong Optoelectronics Technology Research Institute (the 717th Research Institute of China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation), and Yunzhou Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd. This is also the first domestic aquatic weapon system that is jointly developed by a state-owned military research institute and local private military enterprises.

In terms of performance parameters, the "Lookout II" boat is 7.5 meters long, 2.7 meters wide, has a displacement of 3.7 tons, a maximum speed of 45 knots (about 83 kilometers per hour), a standard endurance of 310 nautical miles at 22 knots, and can be applied to Level 4 sea conditions. "Lookout II" also has various driving modes such as fully autonomous, semi-autonomous, remote manual control, and manual driving. The boat is equipped with photoelectric and radar systems, and a quad missile launcher is installed at the bow of the boat. It uses image guidance and can launch four precision missiles with a maximum range of 5 kilometers.

"Lookout II" can undertake reconnaissance missions

The missile unmanned boat is flexible and has strong stealth, and is of great value in military applications. "Lookout II" can undertake enemy reconnaissance and precision strike missions. It can carry out precision strikes against small and medium-sized targets at sea. It can also cooperate with drones and other equipment to interconnect information. At the same time, it can carry out cluster incapacitation strikes against large targets. It can also cooperate with amphibious forces to conduct line-of-sight attacks on shore-based tanks, armor, bunkers and other targets.

And the cost of unmanned boats is low, and they can be produced and applied on a large scale without worrying about casualties. With their informatization and intelligence, they have a wide range of application scenarios and combat uses. "Lookout II" can be used for patrol duties on maritime islands, coastal waters, important routes and other key targets in peacetime, to identify and warn targets with small and medium threats and to carry out missile strikes when necessary. It can carry out reconnaissance and strikes during wartime, and can carry other different mission loads to expand combat performance.