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A new submarine commissioned by the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy enters operation; it is believed to be a new variant of the Type 039A-C [PLAN]
In April 2024, China launched a new type of conventionally powered submarine, one of its most advanced to date. While the secrecy surrounding this new class is nothing new for those familiar with the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) buildup under the rule of President Xi Jinping, the new boat has some particular traits never seen before in any Chinese boat. More importantly, although the US and NATO allies still have a competitive edge over their Chinese counterparts, Beijing’s efforts are gradually closing the existing capability gap in the submarine domain as Washington and its allies struggle to resource their own fleets.
American submarine expert Tom Shugart was the first to report about the new type of boat via X (formerly Twitter) in July 2024, spotted in Wuhan three months after the submarine had been reportedly launched. Although there are still few details on its development, or on how many units will be built, China is clearly making progress with its submarine capabilities. The submarine is believed to be a new variant of the Type 039A-C (Yuan-class) in service in the PLAN, with an X-form rudder, and a slightly longer hull, which suggests it may have been fitted with a vertical launch system (VLS) for missiles. This is particularly relevant since conventionally powered submarines (those without nuclear propulsion) rarely feature this capability, potentially making it one of the most lethal non-nuclear submarines in the world.
While the new boat and the secrecy surrounding it are not a cause for serious concern or any alarmism, it is yet another demonstration of the determination driving China’s naval buildup. Meanwhile, Washington and many of its allies (including the Spanish Navy) do not have enough submarines in their fleets and are unable to properly resource the industrial base that is needed to support them.