First Close Look at China’s Unique Newly Launched Nuclear Submarine with Enhanced Stealth

Following the release of satellite imagery showing a new class of Chinese nuclear powered submarine at the Jiangnan Shipyard in Shanghai in early June, the release of the first ground level footage has provided further insight into the mysterious vessel’s unique design features, raising further questions regarding the planned future of the fleet. Although the warship was previously thought not to have a sail, footage from ground level has shown a small sail structure with an unusually large X rudder. Analysts have noted that this indicates a a highly hydrodynamic design for quiet and fast underwater speed, possibly making it a specialised variant of the new Type 095 class nuclear powered attack submarine. The first Type 095 class nuclear powered attack submarine was launched some time in early 2026 at the Bohai Shipyard in the Chinese city of Huludao.

Nuclear powered attack submarines are one of a few remaining areas where China has not yet established a distinct capability advantage over the United States, having done so in a wide range of other areas from fighters to main battle tanks and destroyers where the U.S. has been left increasingly far behind. China’s nuclear powered submarine fleet was nevertheless assessed to have surpassed that of Russia in 2025 in its size, while the country’s industry for producing such ships is estimated to have comfortably surpassed that of the United States in its output. The launching of nuclear powered submarines at the Jiangnan Shipyard and the Bohai Shipyard has provided a total of three production facilities, surpassing two in the United States and one in all other nuclear submarine producing countries. 

While little is known regarding the new submarine class built at the Jiangnan Shipyard, regardless of its role and external features it is expected to share a wide range of technologies with the Type 095 class. These include the use of magnetic drive technologies and Rim Driven Propellers, which the Type 095 is thought to be the first submarine class in the world to benefit from. The Type 095 has an entirely revised hull form, advanced vibration isolation, improved reactor quieting, and probable pump-jet propulsion, with recent satellite imagery indicating it uses a pump-jet propulsor rather than a conventional propeller. Pump-jets reduce cavitation and significantly lower underwater noise at high speeds, making detection far more difficult. Recently commenting on the Type 095 program, former U.S. Navy officer Christopher Carlson observed: “The Type 095 will be a very quiet submarine, which will complicate the situation.” While China is rapidly modernising and expanding its nuclear powered attack submarine fleet, the U.S. Navy is increasingly concentrating its own nuclear powered attack submarine fleet in the Pacific theatre, in particular at forward facilities in Australia, Guam and Hawaii.