China begins production of new generation of nuclear submarines – Reuters

This development was reported by Reuters.

According to analysts and defense experts, China is making significant progress toward having its next-generation ballistic missile submarine operational by the end of this decade. Chinese engineers have achieved a reduction in noise levels in these submarines due to the use of Russian technology.

These new Chinese submarines are expected to be considerably more challenging to detect. Analysts and military experts based in Asia have confirmed this assessment.

"The Type 096s are going to be a nightmare," said retired submariner and naval technical intelligence analyst Christopher Carlson. "They are going to be very, very hard to detect."

Efforts to track China's nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines, referred to as SSBNs, have been relatively discreet but are a significant factor driving increased deployments and contingency planning by the U.S. Navy and other Indo-Pacific forces. This effort is anticipated to escalate once the Type 096 submarines become operational.

It's worth noting that these new Chinese submarines will be in direct competition with modern Russian vessels in terms of stealth and armament. Analysts predict that this technological advancement will have profound implications for the United States and its allies in the Indo-Pacific region.

• In a separate incident, it was reported that 55 Chinese sailors lost their lives in a submarine accident. The Chinese authorities have not officially acknowledged this incident or provided any information about it.