China’s submarine boom is outpacing US: Is America losing its sea power edge? | World News

Beijing: China is building nuclear-powered submarines faster than ever before. This situation changes the balance of submarine power and attracts the attention of the USA. A study by an international security institute shows that Beijing is launching more submarines than Washington. This situation raises concerns about the future balance of naval power.

In the last five years, China has launched 10 nuclear-powered submarines, while the USA has done this with seven submarines. The report states that China’s submarines are larger and heavier than those of the United States. This suggests that Beijing is building its submarine fleet much faster.

Since China does not publish official figures on its submarine inventory, analysts based their findings on satellite monitoring of shipyard activities.

This pace of construction marks a change from the period between 2016 and 2020, when the United States launched seven nuclear boats while Beijing added only three nuclear boats. Although the launch of submarines does not mean immediate deployment and Washington still has a much larger active fleet, the trend underscores a new intensity in China’s military shipbuilding.

By early 2025, China had 12 nuclear-powered submarines, split evenly between ballistic missile platforms and attack boats. In comparison, the United States had a fleet of 65 nuclear submarines, 14 of which were capable of launching strategic missiles.

China also has a significant fleet of conventionally powered submarines that do not rely on nuclear reactors but regularly deliver fuel. The United States has no ships in this category.

The expansion was supported by improvements at the Bohai Shipbuilding facility in northern China, where docks and production lines are growing to accommodate larger submarine construction.

This comes at a time when US production targets are lagging. Official reports submitted to Congress last month highlighted that American shipyards are struggling to deliver even a single Virginia-class attack submarine per year. It fell short of the planned annual rate of two.

Meanwhile, work on the next generation of US strategic submarines is behind schedule, with first deliveries expected for 2028.

The growth of the Chinese fleet is especially evident in its strategic submarine forces. The report points to recent launches of Type 094 ballistic missile submarines, which increase Beijing’s ability to deploy nuclear weapons at sea, a key component of its strategic deterrent, alongside land-based missiles and long-range bombers. More advanced designs are already in preparation, including the new Type 096 class expected later this decade.

In addition to these long-range platforms, China has also touted guided missile nuclear submarines designed with vertical launch systems capable of firing modern anti-ship missiles. He highlights Beijing’s focus on expanding capabilities across mission types. Such developments have attracted the attention of defense experts around the world.

Despite rapid expansion, the report finds areas of relative weakness in Chinese submarine design. He points out that many Chinese-made submarines are probably noisier and less sophisticated than Western-built boats. This gives the United States and European navies an advantage in stealth and evasion of detection.

But observers warn that numbers are crucial in naval operations. Countries with larger fleets have greater reach and power in expanded maritime competition. China already has the world’s largest collection of destroyers, frigates and other surface warships. The expanding submarine force adds depth to this force.

Across the Pacific, U.S. naval leaders acknowledged the challenges. Recent testimony before lawmakers indicated that American shipbuilding programs are strained by delays and cost overruns affecting multiple platforms.

Independent assessments warn of a decline in the number of US attack submarines in the late 2020s as older boats are retired faster than new ones come into service. This temporary reduction could leave the U.S. fleet at its lowest point in decades. Pressure will increase on policymakers seeking to balance fleet commitments with global security responsibilities.

As Washington pursues partnerships, including the sale of submarines to allies as part of broader security agreements, analysts say attention to submarine forces will be central to the future military balance. The coming years promise to be a decisive period for the submarine force, with consequences ranging from strategic deterrence to operations under the waves.