Eye-catching details on the drive
Experts puzzle over China’s new nuclear submarines
09/22/2026 – 3:03 p.mReading time: 3 minutes
Satellite images show puzzling details about China’s next generation of submarines. According to experts, the drive and rear design indicate a technological leap.
New satellite images provide a look China next generation of nuclear powered submarines. Photos from the Bohai shipyard in Huludao, northeast China, clearly show a so-called pumpjet drive and an X-shaped tail for the first time. The specialist media “Janes” and “The War Zone” (TWZ) report this independently of each other. In their analyses, they refer to various images from the satellite company Vantor.
“Janes” evaluated an image from September 1st, “TWZ” received another image from September 18th. Both show a submarine during work in the shipyard. However, the exact series cannot be determined with certainty. The specialist publication “Janes” classifies the boat as type 095. According to experts, however, it has not yet been possible to determine with certainty which series can actually be seen in the most recent satellite images.
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Propulsion is intended to make submarines quieter
The pump jet at the rear can be seen particularly clearly in the pictures. Unlike an open propeller, the drive is located inside a casing. Such systems can reduce noise levels. Another effect: This means you can work more efficiently at higher speeds. Keeping the noise level as low as possible is crucial for military submarines because it makes it difficult for enemy sonar systems to locate them using sound waves and ultrasound.
In addition, according to the pictures, there is an x-shaped arrangement of the rudders at the stern, i.e. the rear part of the ship. According to “Janes”, this is the first known Chinese nuclear submarine with such a design. Among other things, it can improve the ability to maneuver. Photos of a new boat from Huludao had already revealed such a stern in February. At that time, experts suspected for the first time that it could be the long-awaited Type 095.
However, the weaponry remains unclear. In one photo, a larger open area can be seen behind the tower. A vertical launch system for cruise missiles, i.e. guided rockets, could be installed there. However, it is also conceivable that the opening is only needed for work on the reactor. Marine analyst Alex Luck expressly warned “TWZ” not to draw conclusions about the exact configuration from the currently available images.
