At this moment, it truly feels like unification is getting closer: a large number of landing craft are being converted into automated unmanned obstacle-clearing boats!

Recently, an equipment modification project is rapidly advancing— the 271 series landing craft are being extensively retrofitted into automated unmanned obstacle-clearing boats. This is not merely a case of "old wine in new bottles," but a deep reconstruction aimed at the future amphibious combat system.

The 271-type landing craft itself is an older model that has been in service for many years, with a displacement of about 130 tons, capable of carrying around 80 fully armed soldiers or one main battle tank, and a cruising speed of about 10 knots. These traditional landing craft have undertaken a large number of nearshore delivery tasks over the past few decades.

Now, they are undergoing a transformative upgrade: removing personnel compartments, adding autonomous navigation systems, remote communication modules, obstacle recognition sensors, and demolition devices, transforming into unmanned platforms specifically used for obstacle clearing at the beachhead.

Currently, at least several dozen 271 boats have entered the modification process, and the pace is noticeably accelerating. This modification is not experimental in nature, but is being deployed systematically and in an organized manner.

For example, in recent training exercises of a certain amphibious combined brigade in the Eastern Theater Command, there has been a formation consisting of 6 to 8 unmanned obstacle-clearing boats, working together to carry out simulated beachhead clearance tasks. These boats can automatically identify underwater obstacles, minefields, or artificial anti-landing stakes, and can open safe passages through targeted demolition or mechanical clearance, all without the need for personnel to board the boats.

In recent years, the proportion of unmanned boats, drones, and unmanned vehicles in joint landing exercises organized frequently in regions such as Fujian and Guangdong has been increasing year by year. In a cross-sea live-fire drill in 2024, unmanned systems accounted for over 40% of reconnaissance and obstacle-clearing tasks, which was almost unimaginable in the past.

This tangible technological progress truly makes one feel that the pace of unification is getting closer.