--- title: "Our Best Look At Taiwan’s New Uncrewed ‘Smart Dragon’ Submarine" description: "New imagery of Taiwan’s homegrown *Huilong* uncrewed underwater vehicle (UUV) — also known as the Smart Dragon — reveals more details of this intriguing craft, including what appears to be a pair of torpedo tubes, pointing to an expanded kinetic…" date: "2024-10-29" modified: "2024-10-29" authors: - name: "Thomas Newdick" job_title: "Staff Writer" link: "https://www.twz.com/authors/thomas-newdick" url: "https://www.twz.com/news-features/our-best-look-at-taiwans-new-drone-submarine" categories: - "Around The Globe" - "China" - "Indo-Pacific" - "Navies" - "News & Features" - "People's Liberation Army Navy (China)" - "Republic Of China Navy (Taiwan)" - "Sea" - "Taiwan" - "Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (UUVs)" --- # Our Best Look At Taiwan’s New Uncrewed ‘Smart Dragon’ Submarine ![New imagery of Taiwan’s homegrown Huilong uncrewed underwater vehicle (UUV) reveals new details, including a pair of apparent tornedo tubes, indicating a possible combat capability. At this stage, it seems the submarine is intended as a testbed, rather than for a combat role, but the development does point to the growing ambitions of the Taiwanese Navy in terms of underwater warfare.]() *YouTube screencap* New imagery of Taiwan’s homegrown *Huilong* uncrewed underwater vehicle (UUV) — also known as the Smart Dragon — reveals more details of this intriguing craft, including what appears to be a pair of torpedo tubes, pointing to an expanded kinetic potential for the type. At this stage, it seems this relatively large drone submarine is intended as a testbed, rather than for an operational role, but its development does point to the [growing ambitions]() of the Taiwanese Navy in terms of underwater warfare and the design, and certainly elements of it, could end up in a production form. In recent days, imagery has appeared showing the *Huilong* both out of the water and undergoing at-sea trials. Photos of the *Huilong* [in a dry dock](), still surrounded by scaffolding, provide a good view of the front end of the UUV, with the characteristic twin torpedo tubes at the front. Ahead of the apertures are yellow-painted cradles of the kind used to maneuver and load torpedoes and possibly torpedo-sized UUVs. A look at the rear end of the vessel, meanwhile, reveals an [X-shaped rudder and tail fin arrangement](), as well as a 5-bladed bladed propeller with raked tips. https://twitter.com/phillipcharlier/status/1849198846909480982 Meanwhile, a video of the *Huilong* shows it being attended to by technicians under a floating shelter, just off the end of a pier, before the UUV is seen being towed out to sea behind a support vessel. https://twitter.com/taiwanplusnews/status/1849375284761333824 According to reports, Taiwan [began work]() on the *Huilong* in 2020, with the project being run jointly by the state-owned National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST) and Lungteh Shipbuilding, headquartered in Yilan County in northeastern Taiwan. Estimated [specifications]() for the UUV include a length of around 30 meters (98 feet), a width of height of around 3.6 meters (11.8 feet), and a height of around 6 meters (19.7 feet) including the conning tower. The *Huilong* is thought to have a displacement of approximately 100 tons. The *Huilong*’s test role was reiterated in [recent statements]() by the Taiwanese minister of defense. They said that the UUV is primarily meant for trials of sonar and underwater mines and apparently said that it doesn’t have its own propulsion system. Instead, during sea trials, it will be towed by a support vessel, the minister said. Bearing in mind the configuration of the *Huilong*, including propeller and tailplanes, the craft should at least have the potential to manuever under its own power, although this might only happen *after* initial towed trials and even then, towing it in and out of port will probably be necessary. While there has been some speculation that the *Huilong* might also have an operational role, there’s so far no confirmation of this. https://www.twitter.com/TaiwanMilitary/status/1848961276979896650 More likely, it seems that technologies will be proven using the *Huilong* and will be ported over to follow-on UUVs, which cold include a production version of the test submarine. There are unconfirmed reports that the *Huilong* is intended to lead to a UUV that can be deployed from the backs of crewed submarines, although if this is possible due to its size is unclear. The design would seem to suggest it would be suitable for operating out of ports, as well. Other [reports suggest]() that the *Huilong* is designed to deploy smaller UUVs, suggesting that there are ultimately plans for drone submarines that can potentially launch both torpedoes as well as UUVs that could be used for surveillance, target acquisition, and perhaps also strike operations. Laying mines is also a likely mission set. There are even conflicting accounts of whether the *Huilong* is a true UUV, or whether there is also [provision made to carry some crew](), with some [reports]() suggesting the UUV has space for two to four people. Perhaps, a crew will be embarked in a test capacity, before moving to fully uncrewed operations. While many questions about the *Huilong* remain unanswered, there’s meanwhile no doubt that Taiwan is investing in its underwater capabilities. Earlier this year, *TWZ* reported about Taiwan’s first domestically made submarine, the *Hai Kun*, which entered the water for the first time in February, [after being launched]() in September 2023. ![]() *Taiwan’s first domestically made submarine, the *Hai Kun* (SS-711). *CSBC Corporation** The diesel-electric boat is the first of eight planned to provide a much-needed upgrade for Taiwan’s antiquated submarine force. While an initial assessment of the *Hai Kun* suggests an unusual combination of some fairly advanced features, it also potentially has a quality of finish that leaves something to be desired. The fact that Taiwan has, for many years, struggled to acquire foreign-made submarines spurred the development of the *Hai Kun*. But as the submarine fleet of the [People’s Liberation Army Navy]() (PLAN) rapidly grows, the potential of UUVs to at least help address the imbalance is likely to make them an attractive option for Taiwan. In the past, Taiwanese officials [have boldly stated]() that its new crewed submarines will be a “strategic deterrent,” that could maintain a “lifeline” to the Pacific in times of crisis, such as a Chinese naval blockade. That ambition seems less realistic when we take into account the fact that the PLAN submarine fleet numbers at least 60 boats, of all types, with the production of different designs and the [development of new ones]() continuing [at a rapid pace](). ![]() *The modern Type 039C, with its distinctive sail that is very likely intended to improve the boat’s stealthy characteristics, typifies the rapid pace of innovation in Chinese submarine design. *via X** While Taiwan will never be able to challenge China in terms of submarine numbers, UUVs — especially ones that can operate alongside crewed submarines — could play a very useful role. The fact is not lost on Beijing, either, with the PLAN also increasingly exploring the potential of UUVs as well as uncrewed surface vessels (USVs). Taiwan’s future submarine doctrine will be based around modern diesel-electric submarines that will likely exploit their advantages for ‘asymmetric’ warfare. This could involve setting ambushes for Chinese vessels. These same kinds of missions could potentially also be taken on by future UUVs, with torpedo-armed ones being especially suitable for ambushes. As well as launching torpedoes, the UUVs could also lay sea mines, [a growing area of interest for the U.S. Navy](), as well. As well as operations around Taiwan, the country’s submarine fleet could also venture further afield, including into the so-called ‘first island chain,’ where it could disrupt PLAN activities in [major chokepoints]() like the Bashi Channel and the Miyako Strait. Again, UUVs could be of particular value here, with their small size making them proficient for shallow-water operations. ![]() *A Pentagon graphic showing the geographic boundaries of the First and Second Island Chains. *U.S. Department of Defense** At the same time, both UUVs and crewed submarines would be prime targets for the PLAN during a conflict, in which China’s growing anti-submarine warfare capabilities would be targeting these as a matter of priority. But flooding the battespace with drones of all types is increasingly seen as [a potential decisive factor]() in a battle across the Taiwan Strait. UUVs are definitely going to be an increasingly critical part of this tactical equation. Operational Taiwanese UUVs may still be some way off, but there’s no doubt that the country needs to urgently modernize and expand its submarine fleet. As you can read about [here](), this currently consists of two *Hai Lung* class boats, built in the Netherlands in the mid-1980s but subject to a [mid-life upgrade]() that began in 2016. There are also two veteran *Hai Shih* class boats, which were originally built as *Tench* class and *Balao* class submarines during World War II, but these are understood to no longer go to sea. Faced with the threat of China’s [fast-growing underwater armada](), Taiwan’s interest in UUVs is understandable and it will be interesting to follow their development as it continues to upgrade its submarine force. *Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com* ## Author Thomas Newdick is a staff writer at *TWZ*, where he covers military aviation, defense technology, weapons systems, and international security. Based in Berlin, Germany, he reports on conflicts, military modernization efforts, and emerging aerospace technologies around the world, with a particular interest in airpower and its role in contemporary warfare. His reporting is informed by deep expertise in modern and historical airpower, particularly in Europe, with a focus on military aviation, air campaigns, and aerospace developments across the continent and beyond. Over a journalism career spanning more than 25 years, Thomas has become known for making complex defense and aerospace topics accessible to a broad audience. His reporting combines technical expertise, historical context, and a focus on the real-world operational and strategic implications of military developments. ### Author social links [Twitter]()