Satellite Images Reveal China’s New Type 095 Nuclear Attack Submarine.

Satellite imagery dated 9 February 2026 appears to show China’s first Type 095 nuclear-powered attack submarine undergoing fitting out at Huludao shipyard in Liaoning province. The sighting signals a potential leap in the People’s Liberation Army Navy’s undersea warfare capability, with implications for U.S. Navy operations in the Western Pacific.

Commercial satellite imagery captured on 9 February 2026 indicates that China may have launched its first next-generation Type 095 nuclear-powered attack submarine, now moored at the Huludao shipyard complex along the Bohai Sea. The submarine, observed alongside a fitting-out pier within the industrial zone long associated with China’s nuclear submarine construction, measures roughly 110 meters in length with a beam approaching 12 meters, dimensions comparable to the existing Type 093 Shang class. However, analysts note subtle but significant differences in the external configuration, including what appears to be a refined sail structure and possible hull shaping changes, suggesting acoustic improvements and updated combat systems.
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Huludao has historically produced both the Type 093 nuclear-powered attack submarine and the Type 094 nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) (Picture source: Google Earth)

Huludao has historically produced both the Type 093 nuclear-powered attack submarine and the Type 094 nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN). The Type 095, long anticipated in open-source assessments, is widely regarded as the successor to the Shang class, which entered service in the mid-2000s and underwent incremental improvements in later batches. With an estimated submerged displacement likely exceeding 7,000 tons, based on hull proportions comparable to late-model Type 093B units, the new platform appears designed to narrow the acoustic and performance gap separating Chinese SSNs from their Western counterparts.

The most visible departure from previous Chinese designs lies at the stern. The imagery shows a pronounced X-tail rudder configuration with four control surfaces arranged diagonally rather than the conventional cruciform layout. This is the first known instance of an X-tail adopted on a Chinese nuclear-powered submarine. Such a configuration enhances maneuverability, particularly in constrained or shallow waters, by allowing more flexible control authority over pitch and yaw. Western navies, including those operating the U.S. Navy’s Virginia class SSN and several advanced European designs, have moved toward similar arrangements in pursuit of finer handling and reduced hydrodynamic noise.

The sail presents another notable feature. No external fairwater planes are visible on the sail structure, which distinguishes the Type 095 from earlier People’s Liberation Army Navy boats that mounted control surfaces directly on the fairwater. The absence of visible sail planes suggests the possible adoption of retractable bow planes mounted on the forward hull. When retracted, such planes reduce flow turbulence and acoustic signature during high-speed transit, while still providing the necessary hydrodynamic control at lower speeds or during depth changes. Although satellite imagery alone cannot definitively confirm this arrangement, the clean sail profile aligns with a broader emphasis on acoustic discretion.

Propulsion details remain partially obscured by surface ice and quay shadows, yet the aft section appears consistent with the integration of a pumpjet propulsor rather than a traditional skewed multi-blade propeller. A pumpjet encloses the rotor within a duct, reducing cavitation at higher speeds and mitigating tonal noise that can be exploited by passive sonar systems. Cavitation occurs when pressure differentials around propeller blades create vapor bubbles that collapse and generate detectable acoustic signatures. By smoothing pressure gradients, a pumpjet supports quieter operation across a wider speed envelope, although it introduces engineering complexity and typically requires higher power output from the reactor plant.

While specific reactor characteristics are not visible, the Type 095 is expected to incorporate a pressurized water reactor (PWR) of improved design over that fitted in early Type 093 variants. A modern PWR supports sustained high-speed submerged transit and extended patrol endurance measured in months rather than weeks, constrained primarily by crew provisions rather than fuel. The internal architecture likely integrates advanced flank array sonars and a bow-mounted spherical sonar, systems that together provide long-range passive detection against surface combatants and opposing submarines. Contemporary Chinese SSNs are also assessed to field vertical launch capability for land-attack cruise missiles in some variants, although this cannot be confirmed from the present imagery.

In operational terms, the Type 095 is positioned to perform multiple missions within the PLAN’s expanding maritime strategy. As a nuclear-powered attack submarine, it can escort carrier strike groups, conduct anti-submarine warfare against adversary SSNs, and undertake long-range intelligence collection in contested waters. Its endurance allows sustained presence beyond the First Island Chain, extending patrol patterns into the Western Pacific and potentially into the Indian Ocean. The integration of quieter propulsion and refined control surfaces enhances survivability in environments dense with maritime patrol aircraft, surface combatants equipped with towed array sonars, and fixed undersea sensor networks. At higher transit speeds, reduced acoustic output complicates tracking by passive systems, while improved maneuverability supports operations in littoral zones such as the South China Sea.

The emergence of the Type 095 at Huludao reflects a broader shift in China’s naval posture. Over the past decade, the PLAN has expanded from a force focused primarily on near-seas defense to one increasingly oriented toward blue-water operations. A more capable SSN fleet underpins that transition by protecting sea lines of communication, deterring adversary intervention, and providing a covert strike option against high-value targets. For regional actors, including Japan, India, and Australia, as well as the United States, the appearance of a new Chinese SSN generation reinforces the centrality of undersea competition in Indo-Pacific security planning. As construction progresses and additional units enter service, the balance of acoustic advantage and operational reach in the Western Pacific is likely to evolve, shaping naval modernization programs and alliance coordination across the region.