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China is building a new type of conventional-powered submarines. Satellite photos show that the new conventional-powered submarines have unprecedented characteristics. According to American experts, they have stronger stealth capabilities underwater and better silent effects, making them difficult to detect by the outside world. This increases China's underwater combat capability, and in terms of "great power competition", China's deterrence will be stronger.

US satellite photos show China building a new submarine

Recently, the U.S. website "Power" disclosed a satellite photo: It is said that this is a new diesel-electric submarine that China is building at the Wuchang Shipyard. Former U.S. submarine crew member and defense analyst Shugart said on social media that he got this satellite photo, which was taken by the U.S. commercial satellite company Planet Labs on April 26 at the Wuchang Shipyard. According to his study of this satellite image: The length of this submarine is 83-85 meters, but its appearance design is very unique. It may use an X-shaped stern design, and this configuration "has never been seen on China's submarines in the past."

Compared with the traditional cross-shaped design, this design can provide submarines with greater maneuverability underwater and minimize the possibility of accidental dives. In addition, it reduces the noise of the submarine, thereby avoiding detection by reconnaissance equipment on the water, which is also a key factor in the survival of submarines underwater.

With the development of underwater submarine technology today, the most critical technology is how to keep the submarine silent underwater, or to reduce the noise decibel when the submarine is moving to the lowest level, so that the anti-submarine equipment on the water cannot detect the existence of the underwater submarine, thus avoiding exposing its specific location.

Generally speaking, when submarines enter the ocean, under the cover of the vast ocean surface, they can play a powerful deterrent role. In combat, under the cover of the sea, submarines can often play an "asymmetric" combat effect, making it difficult for the opponent's surface ships to defend themselves. During World War II, after the failure of the giant ship strategy, Nazi Germany used underwater submarines to play the "wolf pack" tactics, causing great losses to Allied ships sailing in the Atlantic.

However, today, many advanced anti-submarine equipment are also being produced, and the most noteworthy one is the anti-submarine aircraft. Under the influence of the anti-submarine aircraft, the quiet effect of the submarine becomes extremely precious. When the submarine sails silently underwater, it undoubtedly provides a layer of stealth performance safety protection.

The key to submarines sailing safely underwater and exerting their strategic deterrence advantage now lies in silence

The United States and Russia have always been at the forefront of the world in submarine technology. They have created veritable "ocean black holes". Now China's submarine technology has made new breakthroughs. The "shaftless pump-propulsion" technology has greatly reduced the decibels of sound when nuclear submarines are moving. Chinese submarines have also joined the ranks of "ocean black holes".

The new conventional submarine has further improved its quietness and stealth performance in terms of exterior design. After seeing this satellite photo, Sutton, an American underwater submarine warfare expert, said: The lengthened hull of this unidentified Chinese submarine suggests that it may be equipped with vertical launch tubes. Nowadays, the vertical launch system composed of multiple units is the mainstream of naval ship design. It can launch various missiles, allowing the submarine platform to flexibly load the best combination for the mission.

From this point of view, this new conventional submarine can undertake different combat missions by equipping different missiles, such as ground attack, ship attack, etc. According to the US media, the current US Navy submarines are all nuclear submarines. Compared with nuclear submarines, diesel-electric submarines have their own advantages and disadvantages. Due to their small size, they have stronger stealth capabilities. However, due to power reasons, they are more suitable for maneuvering in coastal or coastal waters and are not suitable for activities in the deep ocean. However, China's current military activities are basically concentrated inside and outside the first island chain, and diesel-electric submarines are sufficient.

The United States has advanced nuclear submarine technology, and it was previously called the "ocean black hole" together with Russia's nuclear submarines.

However, what worries the US Navy is the number of Chinese submarines. In the eyes of the US Navy, China has rapidly increased the number of naval ships by virtue of its developed shipbuilding industry, and the number of warships of the US Navy is far behind. The same is true for submarines. The US Navy predicts that the number of Chinese underwater submarines will reach a new number in the future, which will greatly weaken the US military's underwater advantage.