Click here - to select or create a menu

Naval News

DEFEA 2021
  • News
  • Event News
    • Euronaval 2020
    • SNA 2020
    • MADEX 2019
    • PACIFIC 2019
  • Interviews
  • Videos
  • Advertising
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
Home» News»China Increases Production Of AIP Submarines With Massive New Shipyard
China Submarine Construction Site Wuhan, Wuchang Shipyard
Intelligence-based sketch. The new construction halls (A) are at the center of the site. Thailand's new submarine is likely to have been built in the hall nearest the river (B). The submarines are rolled out of the sheds on rails (C) and launched sideways into the river (D). They are moored alongside to be fitted out (E). Expansive new halls are still being built in several areas of the site (F). Civilian ship building largely takes place in the open (G).

China Increases Production Of AIP Submarines With Massive New Shipyard

New intelligence confirms that China has ramped up submarine construction at a new site near the city of Wuhan. The Type-039A Yuan class submarines are replacing older types in the Chinese Navy's (PLAN) order of battle. Together with new nuclear powered submarines they are helping to transform the PLAN into a much more modern and capable navy.

H I Sutton 16 Feb 2021

Behind the closed doors of imposing new construction halls, bedecked with a ginormous Chinese flag, workers are busy with the serial production of submarines. The subs are known to include versions of the current Type-039A Yuan Class AIP (Air Independent Power) submarines. Evidence seen by the author shows that several boats are being constructed at once. This means a much greater capacity than many other submarine yards around the world.

The submarines will be for the Chinese Navy ( PLAN – People’s Liberation Army Navy) as well as export customers. The Pakistan Navy and Royal Thai Navy are known to be customers of the types of submarine being built here. And the vast production facility is likely to be a factor in the China’s competitiveness on the international submarine market. China is beginning to compete with traditional Western countries like France and Germany. And in terms of capacity, it is likely that Chinese yards can out-build their competitors.

The Wuchang Shipyard used to be in the center of Wuhan but has now moved to a much larger site further down the Yangtze River. The yard is approaching ten times the area of the older one where these submarines were built and stretches for over 1.5 miles long the river bank.

Work at the new site began in 2012. Construction of surface vessels had started in the open by 2015 but the site was still being developed. Large covered construction halls have been added one by one, with the the third being finished in 2019. These covered halls are where the submarines are believed to be assembled.

The Royal Thai Navy’s first modern submarine is being built at the site. Known as the S26T design, it is in fact an export variant of the PLAN’s Type-039A Yuan Class. The keel laying ceremony took place in one of the new construction halls on September 4 2018.

S26T is based on the PLAN Type 039A SSK

Another export customer is likely to be Pakistan. The Pakistan Navy’s 8 new submarines will be of the Type-039B Hangor Class, another Yuan Class derivative. Production will be split between China and the Karachi Shipyard & Engineering Works (KSEW) in Karachi, Pakistan. The Chinese batch will likely be built at this site.

Thomas Shugart, a retired submarine captain and Adjunct Senior Fellow at the Center for a New American Security, believes that the submarines will be strategically important:

“When seen in combination with the ongoing major expansion of China’s nuclear submarine shipyard capacity, an expansion of China’s diesel submarine production capacity as well may point toward a strong effort to try to erode the advantage in undersea warfare that the U.S. and its allies currently enjoy.”

The nuclear submarine construction Shugart is referencing is at Huludao on the Bohai Sea. This yard has also been massively expanded in recent years and the first evidence of new submarines has been seen in recent months.

However the new Wuchang site is a strong indicator that China will continue with the combined nuclear and non-nuclear submarine fleet mix. The Wuchang site is therefore expected to play a key role in China’s continuing naval expansion.

China Chinese Navy PLAN 2021-02-16
Tags China Chinese Navy PLAN
Facebook Twitter Stumble linkedin Pinterest More

Authors

Posted by : H I Sutton
H I Sutton writes about the secretive and under-reported submarines, seeking out unusual and interesting vessels and technologies involved in fighting beneath the waves. Submarines, capabilities, naval special forces underwater vehicles and the changing world of underwater warfare and seabed warfare. To do this he combines the latest Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) with the traditional art and science of defense analysis. He occasionally writes non-fiction books on these topics and draws analysis-based illustrations to bring the subject to life. In addition, H I Sutton is a naval history buff and data geek. His personal website about these topics is Covert Shores (www.hisutton.com)

Related Articles

First Image Of China’s New Nuclear Submarine Under Construction

First Image Of China’s New Nuclear Submarine Under Construction

H I Sutton 01 Feb 2021
New commercial satellite imagery appears to show the first hull section of a new submarine in China. It could be either the first Type 095 / Type 09V Tang-class SSN or the first Type 096 / Type 09VI SSBN...
Chinese Shipyard Launches 2nd Type 054 A/P Frigate For Pakistan Navy

Chinese Shipyard Launches 2nd Type 054 A/P Frigate For Pakistan Navy

Xavier Vavasseur 29 Jan 2021
China's Hudong Zhonghua launched the second Type 054 A/P Frigate for Pakistan Navy today. This is the second of four vessels on order by Pakistan.
China Launches 3rd Type 075 LHD For The PLAN

China Launches 3rd Type 075 LHD For The PLAN

Xavier Vavasseur 29 Jan 2021
China's third amphibious assault ship, a Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD) known as Type 075, was launched in Shanghai today for the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN or Chinese Navy).

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Legal / Privacy Policy
About Us
Contact Us

© Naval News 2019 - 2020
All Rights Reserved
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.Ok