China has surpassed Russia in the number of nuclear-powered submarines and has moved into second place globally in this strategic segment, closing the gap with the United States and reshaping the balance of undersea deterrence in the Indo-Pacific.
The information was released by the specialized publication Defense Security Asia.
According to the survey, the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) currently operates around 32 active nuclear submarines, while the Russian fleet has between 25 and 28 units in service. The United States remains the clear leader, with approximately 71 nuclear submarines in operation by the end of 2025.
Expanding Chinese fleet
At the beginning of 2026, the Chinese navy operates multi-role nuclear attack submarines of the Type 093 and Type 093A classes, designed for anti-submarine and anti-surface missions using torpedoes and missiles. A significant evolution is the Type 093B project, which incorporates 24 vertical launch cells for YJ-12 or YJ-18 anti-ship missiles, in addition to six 533 mm torpedo tubes in the bow.
In the strategic component, the PLAN fields at least nine ballistic missile submarines of the Type 094 and Type 094A classes, armed with JL-2 and JL-3 submarine-launched ballistic missiles.
Next generation and naval industry
China is also advancing two next-generation projects. The hull of a Type 095 attack submarine is in the early stages of assembly, while the first strategic submarine of the Type 096 project is already under construction. These programs strengthen China’s naval industrial capacity and signal continuity in both the qualitative and quantitative expansion of the fleet.
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Russia falls to third, but without a collapse in capability
According to the analysis, Russia’s drop to third place does not stem from a sudden loss of capability, but from the cumulative effect of industrial stagnation, budgetary constraints, and competing strategic priorities, factors that have limited fleet renewal and operational readiness.
Sources and images: China Military Online | Defense Security Asia | Wikimedia. This content was created with the assistance of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
