China's New Submarines Pose Threat to US and Russia's Missile Capabilities
China has launched its first nuclear-powered guided missile submarines, according to a Pentagon report, marking the country's entry into a domain previously dominated by the US and Russia. The submarines, known as Type 093B guided missile submarines, will give China the ability to conduct long-range precision strikes against land targets, significantly enhancing its power projection capability. The report suggests that three of these submarines could be operational by next year, as part of China's wider expansion of its submarine fleet, which could number 65 vessels by 2025. The development of these submarines is seen as an important new capability for the Chinese navy, allowing them to carry out saturated land and anti-ship attacks at standoff range.