Against the backdrop of rising international geopolitical tensions, the demand for military submarines has reached record levels in recent years.
According to sea-news.az according to experts, a total of 77 submarines have been commissioned by 16 countries between 2021 and 2026. This is considered the highest figure since the 1980s during the Cold War.
According to Naval News, China has commissioned the most submarines (24) during this period. It is followed by Russia (12), the United States (7), Japan (6), India (4), Germany (4), and France (3). This trend is further confirmed by Canada’s decision to place a large-scale submarine order with a consortium led by the German shipbuilding company “TKMS.”
Admiral Bernard Rogel, former Chief of Staff of the French Navy, stated that submarines are among the most difficult military assets to counter because they utilize the invisibility of the sea. According to him, even a single submarine can restrict access to a specific maritime zone while simultaneously allowing for intelligence gathering and tracking of adversary warships.
It is reported that there are currently approximately 500 submarines in the world’s oceans. Experts believe these platforms now hold an important place in the arsenals of not only major military powers but also smaller militaries.
Admiral Rogel notes that submarines are considered a vital military tool capable of changing the balance of power in the face of a stronger adversary. He added that while the notion that “the best submarine hunter is another submarine” once prevailed, this approach has changed to some extent with the development of modern multi-purpose frigates.
