Unmanned helicopter appears on China’s Type 075 ship

A new rotary-wing unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that China unveiled in 2025 has been seen aboard a People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) Type 075 Yushen-class landing helicopter dock (LHD) in recently released state-owned video footage.

Known as the ‘Ship-Borne Unmanned Helicopter’ in state-owned media, the aircraft briefly appeared in a China Central Television (CCTV) special programme on the Type 075-class vessel, which aired on 12 March 2026. Earlier frames from the segment suggest that the UAV was deployed aboard the Hubei (34), the fourth vessel of the Yushen class, which was commissioned in August 2025.

The rotary-wing unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) was unveiled during China’s September 2025 parade in Beijing to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War.
Image credit: AFP via Getty Images

The UAV is based on Aviation Industry Corporation of China’s (AVIC’s) AR-2000 rotary-wing UAV concept, previously under development by China’s No 602 Institute for the PLAN. The UAV is equipped with an electro-optic (EO) turret and synthetic aperture radar (SAR).

The aircraft (which Chinese military observers have tentatively designated as the WZ-2) is also equipped with electronic support measures (ESM) sensors on the sides. A downward-facing antenna, associated with a Ku-band datalink terminal, appears under the tailboom. The aircraft also has six communications intelligence (COMINT) antennas.

In the video footage, the UAV appears briefly, parked on the starboard side of the Type 075 vessel, near the stern, over a unique Ship Helicopter Operating Limits (SHOL) symbol comprising a double-concentric circle with an intersecting triangle. Such a symbol does not appear elsewhere on the vessel. The number ‘7’ is painted outside the circle, confirming that it is the seventh launch and recovery location for rotary-wing platforms.

PLAN officer Lieutenant Ran Weihong told CCTV that the No 7 point has a smaller apron than other locations on the deck. “This position is mainly used for the take-off and landing of UAVs,” Lt Ran added.

An aerial view of the Type 075 Hainan amphibious assault ship at Macun Port in April 2025. Images of the new unmanned helicopter show that it appears to be parked in the lower starboard quadrant of the vessel, near the stern of the ship.
Image credit: Luo Yunfei/China News Service/VCG via Getty Images

The CCTV footage also showed the unmanned helicopter in flight, operating several hundred feet over the sea, behind the Type 075 vessel. The footage also revealed that the UAV is equipped with what is likely a retractable, hauldown, and rapid securing device, to allow it to land in rough weather conditions.

While CCTV did not specify when the video footage was captured, the broadcaster suggested it was during a recent exercise involving Hubei and other PLAN vessels such as the Qinzhou (534), a Type 054B frigate. During the exercise, the Hubei and other PLAN vessels conducted continuous alerts, reconnaissance, and counter-reconnaissance training, according to the broadcaster. In December 2025, the Hubei and Qinzhou conducted combat readiness training in the South China Sea, according to the China Military Bugle, the People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA’s) press account.

A military observer, Cao Weidong, told CCTV that the Type 075 can launch five to six helicopters at a time, and the vessel’s aviation complement is likely to include light, short-range helicopters, larger transport helicopters, and UAVs.

Janes previously assessed in September 2025 that the helicopter could be operated from the PLAN’s Type 075 vessels as well as the Renhai (Type 055)-class cruiser.

This article includes assessments from Janes Senior C4ISR Analyst Ajay Shankar Pandey.

For more, please see: China begins operating Z-20 medium-lift helicopter from Type 075 class

Analysis