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Industry

China suspected of building dedicated mothership for large unmanned underwater vehicle, hull spotted in Shanghai

Signs have emerged that China is building a dedicated surface mothership capable of launching and recovering a large unmanned underwater vehicle directly at sea. An unidentified hull with a different shape from existing Chinese naval ships was spotted at Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding’s dock in Shanghai, with no official confirmation from Beijing. Open-source analysts estimate the vessel is about 200 metres long and could support long-duration operations and wider operating range for large unmanned underwater vehicles.

Industry

U.S. Navy approves Rolls-Royce engines for uncrewed surface vessels up to 30 days at sea

The U.S. Navy has approved Rolls-Royce marine engines for uncrewed surface vessels that can operate for up to 30 days without crew, the outlet said. The certification covers the MTU Series 4000 and Series 2000 engines and reflects requirements under the U.S. National Defense Authorization Act. The engines can be installed on long-duration uncrewed craft designed to run for extended periods without routine maintenance, though actual endurance will vary by design and operating conditions.

Mobility

Boeing sells three air taxi startups to Archer Aviation

Boeing is selling three electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) subsidiaries to Archer Aviation and will also take an equity stake in Archer. The assets include Wisk Aero, SkyGrid and Insitu. Boeing and Archer will share technology, while Boeing will retain access to Wisk’s autonomous flight system for commercial and defence projects. Archer plans to begin pilot air taxi services before year-end in New York, Texas and Florida.