Beijing is ramping up its underwater fleet, and the pace of its nuclear submarine construction is starting to pose a fresh challenge for the United States. This information comes from CNN, citing a report published by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS).
According to IISS estimates, Beijing has significantly accelerated the production of its nuclear submarines—encompassing both attack and ballistic missile variants—over the last five years.
For the first time, China has begun launching these underwater vessels at a faster rate than the United States. Furthermore, the report highlights that the increasing number of Chinese submarines deploying at sea presents a growing and significant contention, not just for Washington but for other Western nations as well.
Researchers behind the study point out that while China is speeding up its efforts, the U.S. and its allies are attempting to boost their own capabilities but are being constrained by limitations in their shipbuilding infrastructure and current production rates.
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