In the earlier article, I discussed how China is building a Kill Web to deter any foreign intervention in a conflict near its shores around Taiwan, the South China Sea, or the East China Sea.

This Kill Web features a multi-layered, redundant, and networked arsenal to achieve mission objectives, particularly in China’s anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) strategy. The Kill Web composes of a suite of weapon platforms including air defense systems, air and naval assets, and a variety of shore-, sea-, and air-based missiles.

The goal of the Kill Web is to neutralize US military power projection into the Western Pacific. One primary tool of such power projection is the US carrier groups. Over the last twenty years, China has been developing a large number of weapon systems to neutralize these carrier groups. Most people are already familiar with anti-ship missiles such as the “carrier killer� DF-21D or YJ-21, hypersonic missiles fired from land or ship.

However, one secretive member of the carrier killer family has not caught much media attention. This is the CH-T1 Ground Effect Drone, an one-of-a-kind weapon only fielded by the Chinese military.

Shrouded in mystery and only recently declassified, CH-T1 is a technological marvel that demonstrates both the full technical spectrum of Chinese mil tech innovations and the country’s commitment to develop multi-layered, redundant weapons to complete its mission objectives.

The CH-T1 drone, also referred to as the Rainbow-T1 Ground Effect UAV (GEUAV), is a unique unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) developed by the China Academy of Aerospace Aerodynamics (CAAA). It is deployed on Chinese naval frigates and destroyers such as the Type 052D and Type 055.

Ground Effect is a phenomenon where an aircraft flying very close to a surface experiences increased lift and reduced drag. This allows it to fly at extremely low altitudes, making enemy radar detection virtually impossible thus negating interception. CH-T1 uses ground effect technology to skim the surface of the ocean, flying just 0.5 to 6 meters above the water.

This weapon is unique in the world and only deployed in the Chinese navy. It is the first and only amphibious surface, underwater and air weapon. It is also AI-powered and can be switched freely between three modes and three speeds for different attack scenarios.

Here’s a breakdown of its key features and intended uses –

• Amphibious Capabilities: CH-T1 is described as an amphibious weapon system, capable of operating in air, on the surface of water, and even underwater. It can dive into the water for silent approach and then jump out to skim the surface.
• Missile-like Design: the forward section resembles a conventional missile, with a cylindrical fuselage and an ogival nosecone for a radar seeker. The main body features thick, long-chord, but short-span stubby wing structures that form a continuous undersurface. It also has small outer wings at the front and upwards-cranked V-tailfins at the rear.
• High Speed and Payload: It can reach speeds of up to Mach 0.65 (approximately 802 km/h or 600 miles per hour). With a maximum takeoff weight of 3,000 kg, it can carry a significant payload of around 1,000 kg of weapons or explosives.
• Endurance and Range: It has an endurance of approximately 1.5 hours, giving it an operational radius of up to 1,200 km for torpedo/missile attacks
• Versatility: when it encounters an enemy torpedo attack, it jumps out of the water, and when it encounters an enemy missile intercept, it becomes a very high-speed missile. It is a composite attack weapon suitable for various operations, land, naval and air.
• Low cost: unit cost of CH-T1 is estimated at $1-2 million; given the value of its targets such as US carriers (average $13 billion) and Aleigh-Burke destroyers ($2.5 billion), fleets of CH-T1 can be deployed for saturation attacks that will penetrate defense even assuming detection.

The CH-T1 is primarily designed as an anti-ship weapon system with advanced stealth and attack capabilities. Its main purposes include:

• Attacking large-scale surface targets: Its substantial payload allows it to carry torpedoes and missiles to engage enemy ships, including aircraft carriers. With a 1,000 kg weapon payload and speed over 10 times that of a warship, one CH-T1 strike can sink a 10,000-ton surface ship
• Long-range rapid torpedo attacks: Its high speed and ability to operate at extremely low altitudes make it suitable for surprise torpedo attacks, the most dangerous attack vector for carriers
• Sea area blockade and coastal target attack: the CH-T1 can carry different types of ammunitions used for maritime interdiction and control of sea lanes as well as coastal attack.
• Radar evasion: Its ground effect flight profile allows it to penetrate radar blind spots, making it extremely difficult to detect and counter by traditional ship-based radar systems
• Multi-mode operation: It can switch between air, surface, and sub-surface modes, making it a versatile composite attack weapon

In summary, CH-T1 is a technological marvel and a unique member of China’s A2AD family of carrier killers. Ground effect drones have never been used by the armed forces of any country in the world and there is no known defense against it due to its low detectability.

Its unique blending of UAV, missile, and ground effect vehicle concepts presents a exciting new entrant in naval warfare.