US EditionChina is building submarines faster than ever, think tank says. Why that’s a problem for Washington
China launched 10 nuclear-powered submarines totaling 79,000 tons from 2021 to 2025, surpassing the US's 7 subs and 55,500 tons, boosting its naval and nuclear triad capabilities.
- During 2021–2025, the IISS found China launched 10 nuclear submarines versus seven for the US, totaling 79,000 tons to 55,500 tons, based on satellite imagery.
- To support the push, Bohai Shipbuilding expanded Huludao yard, producing both Type 094 ballistic-missile submarines and guided-missile submarines, with 12 active nuclear subs as of early 2025, according to the IISS.
- By comparison, the IISS notes the US and Chinese submarine fleets differ in quality, with China’s newest subs not as quiet as US ones, despite launching more from 2021 to 2025.
- A CRS report last month said US shipyards delivered only 1.1–1.2 Virginia-class attack boats annually since 2022, with delays in the Columbia-class program and AUKUS sales potentially hampering fleet growth.
- IISS analysts warn that the greater numbers challenge Western navies, but Beijing does not disclose fleet totals and launch counts from imagery may not reflect active vessels.
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(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Kwon Su-hyeon = The number and scale of nuclear submarines built and launched by China over the past five years are overwhelming those of the United States, threatening the United States' superiority in maritime power...
According to an analysis by the Institute of Strategic Studies, China is pushing for the construction of submarines and creating capacity in the shipyards. The US supremacy as a maritime power is to be broken.
China is building nuclear submarines faster than the US, which could endanger the military superiority of the United States at sea.
Washington Top News
China increased its production of nuclear-powered submarines over the past five years to the point of launching submarines faster than the United States, threatening to overturn an advantage in naval power that has long belonged to Washington, according to a new think tank report. The increase in the People’s Liberation Army Navy’s nuclear submarine force includes both ballistic missile submarines and attack submarines, says the International In…
China is building submarines faster than ever, think tank says. Why that’s a problem for Washington
China has ramped up its production of nuclear-powered submarines over the past five years to the point where it is launching subs faster than the United States, threatening to negate a sea-power advantage that has long belonged to Washington, a new think tank report says.
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