On August 17, 2025, local time, American military expert Sutton stated that China has two large underwater unmanned submarines, and the continuous development of the Chinese Navy continues to surprise the outside world, but the progress in the development of underwater unmanned submarines is not yet noticeable. According to Sutton's statement, China strives to gain a strategic advantage in the field of underwater unmanned vehicle technology. Sutton said: "Although the Chinese Navy's surface ships are trying to catch up with the more powerful U.S. Navy, in the underwater domain, China has invested more funds, especially in the development of ultra-large unmanned underwater vehicles, where the Chinese Navy's R&D speed far exceeds other countries. Most countries have not noticed this!"

Sutton said that he discovered after 2022 that China was developing underwater unmanned vehicles, among which two models were the largest and the latest. The lengths of the two Chinese underwater unmanned vessels are approximately 18-20 meters, resembling torpedoes, and use pump-jet propulsion systems. Their overall size and shape are similar to Russia's "Poseidon" nuclear-powered torpedo equipped with a nuclear warhead. Sutton believes that the Chinese Navy has the world's largest XLUUV (unmanned underwater vehicle) program, with at least five models used over the years. This American expert believes that unlike Russia's nuclear power, the large unmanned submarines and unmanned underwater vehicles of China may be lithium batteries, or not nuclear-powered. The American expert believes that multiple unmanned underwater vehicles and submarines of China have already been tested in the sea and have adopted an X-shaped rudder.

U.S. expert Sutton said that China has two unmanned submarines

This American expert said so many words, but it's equivalent to saying nothing. So what are these two ultra-large unmanned underwater vehicles for? Are they intercontinental unmanned submarines? Or are they similar to Russia's Poseidon, capable of carrying nuclear warheads and conducting nuclear strikes? Or do they have underwater surveillance and strike capabilities, detecting the U.S.-Japan joint fleet and autonomously attacking?

Russian Poseidon submarine is known as a doomsday weapon

Russian Poseidon nuclear-powered submarine

At present, only Russia, North Korea, and China have successfully developed intercontinental unmanned submarines and unmanned underwater vehicles. Intercontinental unmanned submarines can remain dormant for long periods in key seas, automatically waking up when there is an enemy situation, and autonomously attack. Just imagining it is exciting! A large torpedo-like object, if equipped with a nuclear warhead, is technically no problem. Whether it is nuclear-powered depends on the practicality of nuclear batteries. Whether it is North Korea's large unmanned submarine or China's unmanned submarine, nuclear power is acceptable. Small nuclear reactors can drive them, providing nearly unlimited endurance within a short period. In addition to carrying nuclear warheads to bomb ports, it could also be a long-term ambush-style unmanned submarine, using its own characteristics to lie in wait in enemy submarine routes, monitoring enemy vessel data and signals during peacetime, and ambushing enemy vessels at the bottom of the sea during wartime.

North Korea's large unmanned submarine displayed

Looks similar to the Russian Poseidon nuclear-powered submarine

Could it be that the unmanned submarine doesn't carry a nuclear warhead, but is simply a large intercontinental torpedo, directly colliding with enemy submarines and warships in the sea, causing damage? For example, the U.S. Seawolf-class nuclear submarine "Connecticut" collided and damaged in the South China Sea in 2021. The characteristics of such unmanned submarines are that their cost may not exceed hundreds of millions, but striking expensive surface ships or submarines costing tens of billions is quite cheap! Previously, the U.S. nuclear submarine still had a certain overall advantage. These new things, we may have to overtake again. If it can be a super torpedo with a range of 15,000 km, it would be fun. It can intercept missiles in the sky and detect enemy ports underwater, wiping them out completely without the enemy knowing where it came from. Full electric pump propulsion, surveillance and strike integration, in the future, tactical unmanned submarines just need to lie in the trench and open their mouths to feed, which can be called the new era wolf pack tactic.

Many countries around the world are developing unmanned underwater vehicles

Evidently, our large unmanned submarines will be even more, filling the entire Pacific Ocean, and covering the Indian Ocean as well! Russia's Poseidon nuclear-powered infinite-range submarine can remain dormant anywhere, and it is unknown how its progress is, as there has been no news about it. Instead, North Korea and China have developed their own large unmanned submarines.

The target of the unmanned submarines of Russia, North Korea, and China is to strike the U.S. Navy's aircraft carriers

Moreover, the Chinese unmanned underwater vehicles are likely to be nuclear-powered, and even if not, they may have near-infinite power provided by solar energy or new energy sources. The Chinese Navy aims to achieve strengthening, practicalization, and affordability in the future. The expansion of the Chinese Navy continues to surprise the outside world. This is not an accident, but it has made the West fearful! It can be said that in the future, the Pacific will be ours!

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7539491568178020916/

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