China’s 116-Drone Underwater Swarm Sets Pool-Test Record

Xi’an, 30 September 2026 – A Chinese university-led team has coordinated 116 autonomous underwater vehicles in a controlled pool test, setting a record for the number operating simultaneously. The achievement demonstrates progress in small-vehicle coordination, but it should not be confused with an open-water deployment. For investors, the distinction matters: laboratory control is a step toward commercial and security applications, not proof that a fleet can already work reliably in deep, complex seas.

Northwestern Polytechnical University and Xian Tianhe Maritime Technologies said their TH-618 vehicles were tested on 29 August in a pool measuring 50 metres by 20 metres. The vehicles were deployed in sequence and navigated in formation without human intervention for 34 minutes, covering a reported 500 metres. The record was certified by Guinness World Records after officials supervised the trial. The university disclosed the results in late September.