China advances Marine Lizard amphibious USV development |
Janes - 14 April 2019
The prototype sea vehicle is constructed from aluminium alloy and adopts a 12-13.5 m long and 4.14-m wide trimaran hullform with a design displacement and draft of 14.7 tonnes and 0.55 m respectively. According to Wuchang Shipbuilding, the hull comprises "thousands" of aluminium alloy plates that are 5-8 mm thick and bonded together using novel fitting and welding processes designed to minimise plate deformation and other production defects.
It is equipped with a hybrid-electric propulsion system - centred on a pair of marine diesel generators of undisclosed output - that power the four electric track units installed under each corner of the hull.
The track units are independently driven and enable the USV to travel on land at a maximum speed of 20 km/h depending on terrain conditions.
The full-scale prototype hull of the Marine Lizard amphibious combat USV seen during its public debut at Airshow China 2018. Source: IHS Markit/Kelvin Wong
