China is moving toward all-nuclear submarine construction, US Navy intel chief says

The US Navy's intelligence director said China is shifting its submarine construction toward all nuclear-powered boats, supported by a vast shipbuilding capacity that is raising production rates. China currently operates more than 60 submarines, of which at least 14 are nuclear-powered; the remainder are mostly diesel-electric vessels.

Rear Adm. Mike Brookes described the change as a long-term transition driven by expanded investments at three shipyards, major construction efforts, and infrastructure upgrades that have raised China’s nuclear-submarine output from less than one boat a year to significantly higher rates.

Those investments date back more than a decade and, Brookes said, will allow sustained expansion into the 2030s. By 2027 the fleet is expected to number roughly 70 submarines, and by 2035 it could grow to about 80 boats, with roughly half nuclear-powered, even as older Chinese- and Russian-built vessels are retired.

China

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