New Large Chinese Submarine With Very Unique Feature Just Caught On Satellite Imagery

Key Points:

• A new large Chinese submarine without a traditional sail has been spotted at Jiangnan Shipyard in Shanghai, measuring approximately 120 meters long and featuring an X-form rudder and possibly a pumpjet propulsor for quieter, faster operation.
• The absence of a sail enhances the submarine's streamlining, speed, maneuverability, and stealth underwater but may limit surface navigation and mast deployment functions traditionally housed in the sail.
• This design follows a smaller 'sailless' submarine launched by the same shipyard in 2018 and resembles a large uncrewed underwater vehicle concept recently presented by China State Shipbuilding Corporation.
• The new submarine may serve as a high-speed underwater interceptor or focus on seabed or blue-water operations, reflecting China's broader strategic shift toward nuclear and hybrid propulsion submarines to extend naval reach and power projection.
• China's submarine fleet is rapidly modernizing and expanding, with increasing parity to U.S. designs, underscoring Beijing's intent to assert maritime claims and enhance regional naval presence amid growing concerns from U.S. defense officials.