A scale model of the SDV-01 was displayed by Poly Defence, an arm of Poly Technologies that acts as an export agent for Chinese arms sales. This vehicle that has an enclosed cabin can carry up to eight frogmen and their assorted equipment.
“It is a platform to assist special operators to conduction missions in offshore areas due to its good performance of manoeuvre, invisibility and multiple-personnel transportation.” The company added that the submersible can also be used for non-military missions such as antiterrorism, emergency handling and rescue.
Poly Defence Brochure
Of great significance, a spokesperson claimed that the SDV-01 is in use by the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN).
A cutaway drawing shows seating for eight divers in the bow cabin, which possesses front, side and top windows. Each diver has a hatch that opens independently, and the vessel provides an air supply lasting at least eight hours. There is storage for up to three diver propulsion devices amidships.
(Credit: Gordon Arthur)
The SDV-01’s own propulsion system is mounted at the stern. Two thrusters are visible, plus bow planes and a tail plane to control ascent/descent. No mention was made of its propulsion type, although lithium-ion batteries are certainly possible.
Specifications obtained by Naval News listed a length of 8.9m, a maximum body diameter of 1.5m and a mass no greater than 4.5 tonnes.
The SDV-01 can travel at a top speed of 10kt underwater, or approximately 6kt when cruising. At the latter speed, it possesses a range of at least 77km. Its normal operating depth is 10m underwater, with a maximum diving depth of 40m.
The submersible can be controlled manually by a crewman, or operated automatically. Navigation is via satellite, inertial navigation and Doppler log. The vehicle is capable of communicating short messages utilising the BeiDou satellite constellation, and it has an acoustic communication range of at least 500m.
The USN typically deploys its SDVs from a Dry Deck Shelter on attack or ballistic-missile submarines. Alternatively, SDVs can be launched from surface craft or from land.
If the SDV-01 is indeed in PLAN service, Naval News is not aware of dry deck shelters being fitted on any Chinese submarine so far. An article by Hong Kong newspaper Ming Pao eight years ago contained computer-generated imagery of a Type 093 Shang-class SSN with a dry deck shelter depicted, but no photographic evidence has yet emerged of such a set-up in the PLAN.
Poly Defence also exhibited a model of a diver propulsion device at Defense & Security 2023, but it offered no nomenclature for it. It appears to be the latest generation of Chinese diver propulsion device, but its origin and manufacturer is uncertain. However, its presence in the Bangkok show indicates that it is available for export.
