Russia transfers non-nuclear submarine technology to China

A report by the Center for Advanced Defense Studies (C4ADS) reveals that Russia has been transferring non-nuclear submarine technology and technical documentation to China since the 2010s. This cooperation has continued following the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

The technological exchange includes noise reduction technology, non-nuclear engines, automated command and control systems, weapon control systems, and submarine hull design. While China has moved toward indigenous designs, U.S. government sources suggest Russia continues to provide significant technical support for China's nuclear submarine program, particularly regarding acoustic stealth.

A central figure in this collaboration is the Rubin Design Bureau, a subsidiary of Russia's United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC), which is currently under sanctions by the U.S., EU, and Japan. Trade records indicate that between August 2015 and April 2023, Rubin completed 12 deliveries to procurement agencies of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) and China Shipbuilding International Offshore Engineering Co., Ltd. (CSOI), with a total value exceeding $80 million.