Late last year, a Pentagon report warned that China was developing new attack submarines that could prevent anyone from coming to the rescue if China chooses to attack Taiwan.
Now, satellite images are making experts wonder if that report’s warning has become a reality.
Reuters reported that satellite images show a vessel, which could be either a new type of nuclear-powered attack submarine or an upgraded version of an existing submarine.
The new submarines are expected to include vertical launch tubes for guided missiles, which the Pentagon report said could be used to launch cruise missiles to attack land-based targets.
GEOINT analysis from 26 April to 03 May 2022 shows a possible new class of submarine at Huludao Port, China. https://t.co/epfzHDle1I #Geospatial #Intelligence #China #Huludao #Shipyard #NuclearPoweredSubmarine #SSN #DryDock #GlobalSecurity #NavalForceMonitoring #IMINT pic.twitter.com/g5XDE83IVL
— AllSource Analysis (@AllSourceA) May 4, 2022
According to Reuters, the images showed a submarine in a dry dock in Huludao Port in Liaoning province.
The submarine was not in the water between April 24 and May 4, but was later seen mostly submerged.
Singapore-based security expert Collin Koh said the images are intriguing, but do not offer definitive proof of what China is up to as it moves toward an upgraded “hunter-killer” submarine fleet.
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