Everyone Gets to Play with Sea-Going Drones: China's "High-Speed Unmanned Surface Vessel" for "Security Patrols"

Jane's IHC reports "China unveils 13 m high-speed USV concept and targets Southeast Asian navies". That "targeting" word is interesting, because the article really is about the Chinese marketing this vessel. On the other hand, who, exactly, is this thing designed to defend against?

A Chinese state-owned enterprise has unveiled a 13 m trimaran unmanned surface vessel (USV) concept with the intention of marketing the system to navies and law enforcement agencies in the Southeast Asian region.

The system, which the company refers to as the 13 m high-speed intercept boat, features a breadth of 4 m and a draught of 0.6 m.
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According to further specifications provided by the company, the interceptor can reach a speed of 80 kt in a standard configuration that includes a high-resolution video camera and datalinks. The vessel can also be configured to follow a predetermined patrol route and track surface targets autonomously.

Not too different, then, from the Israeli-developed USV "Protector":

The Protector is an integrated naval combat system, based on unmanned, autonomous,

Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd

remotely controlled surface vehicles. Highly maneuverable and stealthy, the Protector can conduct a wide spectrum of critical missions, without exposing personnel and capital assets to unnecessary risk.
The Protector's anti-terror mission module payload includes sensors and weapon systems. The search radar and the Toplite electro-optical (EO) pod enable detection, identification and targeting operations. The weapon systems are based on Rafael's Typhoon remote-controlled, stabilized weapon station, capable of operating various small caliber guns. The highly accurate, stabilized weapon station has excellent hit-and-kill probability.
Protector is mission reconfigurable through its plug-and-play design, allowing utilization of various mission modules:

- Anti-terror Force Protection (AT/FP)
- Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR)
- Naval warfare: ASW, MIW, MCM, ASUW, EW
- Maritime, Port Security

Features and Benefits:

- Unmanned, highly autonomous, remote controlled
- Stealthy, highly maneuverable
- Reconfigurable mission modules

Singapore, Mexico and Israel already have Protectors.