China has taken another step toward increasing its military presence and submarine capabilities in the Indo-Pacific region.
According to sea-news.az that Beijings new-generation submarine has caused serious concern in the US. Although images of the new attack submarine being built at the Jiangnan Shipyard in Shanghai were published by BlackSky in May, official Beijing maintains its silence on the matter.
Military experts state that the new boat is an improved version of China’s existing “Type 093” (Shang class) model or an entirely new class. Meanwhile, Timothy Heath, founder of the research firm Perceptum, emphasized in an interview with the publication that the submarine belongs to a completely new class.
Measuring approximately 120 meters in length and 10 meters in width, the submarine features a smaller sail structure and a shorter hull. These design changes reduce underwater friction and make it more difficult for the ship to be detected by sonar systems and P-8 “Poseidon” patrol aircraft. Although it has not yet been clarified whether it operates on a nuclear or traditional power system, this submarine is a clear example of Beijing’s naval modernization. Notably, China added 10 new submarines to its naval inventory between 2021 and 2025.
