China advances submarine fleet to challenge US naval dominance

China is rapidly closing the technological gap with the United States in undersea warfare. While the United States maintains a technical advantage, the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) has transformed its submarine fleet into a formidable regional threat, particularly in the Indo-Pacific.

Historically, China relied on obsolete Soviet-era technology, lagging behind in sonar precision, propulsion systems, and acoustic stealth. However, through a four-stage evolutionary process, China has transitioned from basic diesel submarines to domestic nuclear models and is now focusing on high-end nuclear attack submarines (SSN) and ballistic missile submarines (SSBN) capable of deep-sea operations.

Estimates suggest the PLAN operates between 60 and 70 active submarines. This fleet includes approximately 50 to 55 diesel-electric attack submarines, alongside nuclear-powered assets.