【Foreign Media: China's New Submarine Sparks Attention, Underwater Forces Accelerate Expansion】

According to Naval News, a French naval website, on June 3, 2026: China is launching new submarines at the fastest pace globally. Its latest design abandons the traditional sail housing, adopting a distinctive and innovative configuration, marking a continuous advancement of China’s submarine force toward more advanced technology and stronger combat capabilities. Due to minimal official information, external interpretations of this new submarine’s role and performance rely primarily on intelligence gathering and expert analysis.

While Western navies can only build one or two submarines during the same period, China’s launch rate continues to rise. Over the past five years, China has launched approximately 15 to 20 submarines, including at least eight new classes.

The most recent one is a previously unreported and unexpected new type of submarine, recently spotted in Shanghai. This submarine is relatively large in size, with a sleek shape, and its futuristic “sailless” design stands out particularly.

——New Submarine Launched

Recent satellite imagery has captured this new submarine multiple times. Between May 31 and June 1, it was observed moored alongside a floating dock at the Jiangnan Shipyard in Shanghai. Although this shipyard is well-known for building large surface warships, it also participates in submarine construction—though it has never before built a nuclear-powered submarine. The launch was not publicly announced, and Chinese public sources have remained silent on the matter.

The vessel’s main distinguishing features include a streamlined bow, an X-shaped rudder, and an extremely low sail. China had previously built an experimental “sailless” submarine at the same shipyard; that older vessel remains moored beside the dock. The adoption of such a configuration is likely intended to reduce hydrodynamic resistance.

Meanwhile, around the same time, another submarine may have been launched at Huludao Shipyard in the Bohai Sea. This shipyard is known as a dedicated facility for nuclear-powered submarine construction. Although not confirmed, analysts speculate that the second submarine launched at Huludao could be of the same class as the one seen in Shanghai. If both submarines were built and launched simultaneously at two different shipyards, the implications would be significant.

——Unanswered Questions About the New Submarine

The submarine is approximately 120 meters long and about 10–11 meters wide. This makes it longer than another new-class submarine launched recently in the Bohai Sea, but narrower. Undoubtedly, this is a new class. The submarine first reported in February was initially believed to be the long-awaited Type 093B attack nuclear submarine, which matched external expectations and seemed logical at the time. However, with the appearance of this second submarine of similar dimensions, it remains unclear which one is the genuine 093B—this question is now unresolved.

The likelihood of this new submarine being a ballistic missile nuclear submarine is low, as such vessels are generally much larger, especially considering the size of China’s latest “JL-3” missile.

Questions remain regarding the mission profile and propulsion system of this new submarine. Regarding power, given its size, conventional nuclear propulsion is most likely. If powered conventionally, it would become the largest conventional submarine currently in service worldwide. China has also been developing a smaller “nuclear AIP” system—using a low-power nuclear reactor as a form of AIP. Similar to Stirling engines or fuel cells, this system offers greater power output and nearly unlimited range. The first submarine to adopt nuclear AIP—the Type 041 Zhou-class—was launched in 2024 at Wuchang Shipyard. The new submarine might employ the same concept, although this possibility is lower than traditional nuclear propulsion.

China’s navy is under no obligation to disclose information about its newest submarine classes. Unlike other nations, China does not publicly release order details and often keeps launches secret, especially for first-of-class vessels. Therefore, analysts must carefully search for clues to answer these outstanding questions.

Disclaimer: All equipment data and images referenced above originate from reports by Naval News.

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Original source: toutiao.com/article/1866968431749129/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.