HULUDAO, China — New commercial satellite imagery has revealed a nuclear-powered attack submarine under construction at China’s Bohai Shipyard in Huludao. Defense analysts have assessed the submarine as the prospective Type 095, although China has not officially confirmed its designation.
New Satellite Imagery
The War Zone reported that Vantor imagery captured on September 18, 2026, provides a clearer view of the submarine. Janes analysed a separate Vantor image from September 1 and assessed the vessel as a Type 095 nuclear-powered attack submarine.
However, the submarine’s exact identity remains unconfirmed, as China has not publicly identified the vessel.
Pumpjet Propulsion and X-Shaped Tail
The submarine is estimated to be approximately 120 metres (394 feet) long based on commercial satellite imagery.
One of its most notable features is a pumpjet propulsor, which encloses the propulsion components inside a shroud. The system is associated with reduced acoustic signatures and improved efficiency at higher underwater speeds. China already uses pumpjet propulsion on its upgraded Type 093B nuclear-powered attack submarines.
The submarine also has an X-shaped stern-plane arrangement, replacing the cruciform configuration used on earlier Chinese nuclear submarines, including the Type 093B. The X-tail can provide improved manoeuvrability and control and may reduce hydrodynamic noise in some operating conditions.
This is the first known X-tail configuration observed on a Chinese nuclear-powered attack submarine. The vessel also has a streamlined sail with no visible fairwater planes.
Possible Missile Launch Section
The September 1 imagery showed an open rectangular section behind the sail. Some observers have suggested that it could accommodate a vertical launch system (VLS) for anti-ship and land-attack cruise missiles.
However, naval analyst Alex Luck cautioned that satellite imagery alone cannot establish the purpose of the opening. It could instead be associated with access to the reactor compartment or other construction work.
In the September 18 imagery, the section is covered by a structure.
Unidentified Bow Openings
The latest imagery also shows at least two large circular openings side-by-side in the bow, ahead of the sail.
Their purpose remains unclear. They could be associated with launch systems or components of the submarine’s sonar suite, but the available imagery does not provide enough information to confirm their function.
China Developing Multiple New Submarines
China is developing several new submarine designs simultaneously.
In 2024, information emerged about the Type 041, also known as the Zhou-class, a hybrid submarine. Another unidentified submarine design with a proportionally very small sail was observed at the Jiangnan Shipyard in Shanghai in 2026.
An earlier submarine observed at Bohai in February 2026 was estimated to be about 110–115 metres long. Analysts have suggested that the February vessel may have been an earlier or one-off prototype, while later submarines launched at Bohai and Jiangnan could represent more complete versions of the new attack-submarine design.
Part of China's Nuclear Submarine Expansion
U.S. Navy officials have said China is shifting construction emphasis from diesel-electric submarines toward nuclear-powered platforms.
The prospective Type 095 attack submarine and Type 096 nuclear-powered ballistic-missile submarine are expected to incorporate new reactors, improved sensors, advanced weapon systems and reduced acoustic signatures.
These next-generation submarines are projected to enter service in the late 2020s and through the 2030s. China currently operates the world’s second-largest fleet of nuclear-powered submarines after the United States.
The Type 095 designation and the exact functions of several features visible in the satellite imagery remain unconfirmed.
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