China’s new hypersonic missile-capable submarine challenges US in Philippines: Report

According to the report, the new submarine is capable of carrying advanced hypersonic missiles, allowing for covert strikes beyond enemy defenses and the option to deploy nuclear warheads if needed. Working with other military forces, it will help deter enemy carrier groups and bases within the first island chain.

The first island chain, which runs from Japan to the Philippines, is a key part of US strategy and a crucial defensive barrier against the PLA. The report suggests that China’s new submarine, whether operating alone or in small groups, could force enemy forces to spread out, creating an asymmetrical deterrent. This approach, it says, would give China’s main forces a decisive advantage in firepower and manpower, increasing their chances of victory in key operational zones.

Satellite images first spotted the new submarine at a Wuhan shipyard in mid-2024. It appears to incorporate advanced technologies, including a vertical launch system (VLS) for cruise and anti-ship ballistic missiles, as well as an X-shaped tail fin for better agility and stability.

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The US is also negotiating the deployment of Typhon systems in Japan, Germany, and Denmark as part of a broader strategy to “deter by denial” – aiming to block key passages into and out of the western Pacific to counter China when necessary.

Related:

CSIS: An Analysis of the United States’ Deterrence by Denial Strategy Against China 美国对华拒止性威慑战略论析