China lifts veil on secretive underwater combat vehicle at Saudi Arabia defence show

SCMP | Feb. 10, 2026, 5 a.m. | Original

A small model of the SDV-01, a swimmer delivery vehicle made by state-owned China State Shipbuilding Corporation, is displayed at the World Defence Show in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Monday. Photo: Amber Wang

At the Middle East’s largest defence exhibition, a Chinese state-owned shipbuilding giant is showcasing a new surface-to-subsurface delivery vehicle designed for frogman operations in the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait.
Running from Sunday to Thursday, the show features a substantial Chinese presence, including its naval weapons, which in recent years have increasingly taken centre stage as the PLA Navy builds a blue-water fleet and expands its shipbuilding capacity.

Among the naval defence products CSSC displayed, the SDV-01’s appearance marked a rare overseas debut for a secretive Chinese delivery system, highlighting Beijing’s ambitions in underwater special operations technology for both domestic and international users.

The wet submersible can carry multiple frogmen to conduct operations such as combat diving, underwater demolition and reconnaissance. Photo: Amber Wang
The wet submersible can carry multiple frogmen to conduct operations such as combat diving, underwater demolition and reconnaissance. Photo: Amber Wang

The SDV, or swimmer delivery vehicle, can carry multiple frogmen to conduct operations such as combat diving, underwater demolition and reconnaissance.

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