China lifts veil on secretive underwater combat vehicle at Saudi Arabia defence show

At the Middle East’s largest defence exhibition, a Chinese state-owned shipbuilding giant is showcasing a new surface-to-subsurface delivery vehicle designed for frogman operations in the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait. China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) is displaying a small model of the vehicle, named SDV-01, at the World Defence Show in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Running from Sunday to Thursday, the show features a substantial Chinese presence, including its naval weapons, which in recent years have increasingly taken centre stage as the People’s Liberation Army builds a blue-water fleet and expands its shipbuilding capacity. The SDV-01’s appearance marked a rare overseas debut for a secretive Chinese delivery system, highlighting Beijing’s ambitions in underwater special operations technology for both domestic and international users. The SDV, or swimmer delivery vehicle, can carry multiple frogmen to conduct operations such as combat diving, underwater demolition and reconnaissance. SDVs have been used by elite naval units worldwide, most notably by US Navy Seals, who for years have operated the Mk VIII Mod 1, an electrically powered mini-submarine capable of carrying six Seals on clandestine underwater missions. Information on China’s SDVs remains limited. Until recently, the only public confirmation of their operational status within the PLA Navy was a brief appearance in a 2018 marine corps recruitment video that featured a black SDV being deployed. A report by CCTV at the time said the vehicle could be launched from either a submarine or surface vessel to transport frogmen for covert operations. The state broadcaster also noted that such delivery vehicles were expected to evolve from handling simple transport roles to serving as comprehensive platforms for special operations. Also in 2018, elite Chinese naval frogmen reportedly conducted a coordinated exercise described as a “decapitation operation” of the kind often associated with targeting Taiwan, including helicopter jumps to execute amphibious missions. Such operations underscore the PLA’s evolving strategy to paralyse Taiwan’s command structure in the event of a cross-strait contingency. The strategy was most recently illustrated during Justice Mission 2025, the PLA’s large-scale military drills carried out near Taiwan in December last year. Beijing sees Taiwan as part of China to be reunited by force if necessary. Most countries, including the United States, do not recognise Taiwan as an independent state, but Washington is opposed to any attempt to take the self-ruled island by force and is committed to supplying it with weapons. The presence of frogmen in the contested South China Sea has been a point of contention. China has in the past accused Vietnam of using such combat divers to obstruct its maritime operations. Meanwhile, the Jiaolong Commandos – an elite Chinese unit comparable to US Navy Seals, and commonly known as the Sea Dragons – who are based in China’s southernmost Hainan province, have also reportedly carried out naval warfare training, but their transport vehicle is unknown. It remains unclear which SDV model the PLA now employs. The CSSC model’s operational status is unconfirmed, as its technical specifications have been omitted from the Riyadh exhibition, contrasting with the shipbuilder’s other detailed displays. The display in Saudi Arabia shows that China seeks to draw buyers from the large Middle Eastern market, as its share of global arms sales continues to grow. CSSC is China’s leading naval shipbuilder, producing vessels ranging from supercarriers and frigates to submarines and air-cushioned landing craft. China now operates three aircraft carriers, with the newest, the Fujian, commissioned last November. In Riyadh, CSSC is also showcasing a model of an unnamed 20,000-tonne landing platform dock, a versatile design tailored for export that draws on the proven capabilities of the PLA Navy’s Type 071 class vessel. A significantly larger landing helicopter assault ship is also on display, possibly representing the PLA’s Type 075 class now in service, alongside a 2,600-tonne submarine model. A CSSC representative said the shipbuilder’s presentation this year offered a more “systematic overview” of Chinese-made forces than in previous years, pointing up the country’s expanded naval capabilities.

China lifts veil on secretive underwater combat vehicle at Saudi Arabia defence show

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Shipbuilding giant showcases new surface-to-subsurface wet submersible as Beijing eyes buyers in large Middle Eastern market

Shipbuilding giant showcases new surface-to-subsurface wet submersible as Beijing eyes buyers in large Middle Eastern market