Recently up -to -date satellite images captured a Chinese naval base, which seems to be anchored part of the country’s nuclear submarines fleet.
For years the bases of Chinese nuclear submarines have been hidden. However, updated images from Google Earth revealed where part of their fleet seems to be anchored.
On Friday, Alex Lucknaval analyst based in Australia, X/Twitter updated images from Google Earth that seem to show several nuclear submarines in First Submarine base of Qingdaoon the east coast of China.
At least six submarines They can be observed in the pier, one of which (purple rectangle in the image) is in dry dock; It may be being dismantled as maintenance is usually performed in another place, says the analyst.
Five of the visible nuclear propulsion submarines in the image seem to have conventional weaponry, Luck notes: in red, two old submarines class 09i, probably training; green, Two class 09iii (a); Yellow, an unidentifiable submarine – possibly a class 09iii (A) or 09IIIB.
O Class 09IVthe only Chinese submarine SSBN (with ballistic missiles and nuclear propulsion), Also, marked in blue.
According to a report by the Federation of American Scientists quoted by, the experimental submarine Classe 09II It was discontinued and replaced by its most advanced successor, Class 09iv.
The base is located 18 km east of Qingdao, in the Yellow Sea, in a place with Easy access to the East China Sea and to the sea of Japan.
According to Newsweek last December, the Pentagon estimated that China, which has the largest navy in the world in number of shipswith more than 370 vessels, should increase your strength of submarines from 60 to 65 Until the end of the year, and for 80 in 10 years.
The Pentagon report states that China built 12 Nuclear Submarines Since 2009, including two type 09ii and four attack submarines of type 09III (A), with conventional weaponry, as well as 6 type 09iv submarines, capable of launching nuclear ballistic missiles.
Em 2020, China overcame the United States In the number of war ships, with 350 ships compared to the 296 US. By 2035, China is expected to have up to 475 ships.
After the past four years has increased defense budget from 172.2 to 230 thousand millions of dollars, the Beijing government recently launched a Colossal Modernization Plan of your navy with a $ 1.4 billion allocation.
US and Australia intelligence reports suggest that China intends to have six aircraft carriers until 2040comparable in size and capacity for US Navy Ford class aircraft. In January, it launched the sea.
The US Navy has currently commissioned by 20 aircraft carriers and helicopters, of which 11 nuclear aircraft carrier: USS GERALD R. Ford, the most advanced in the world, and ten Nimitz class aircraft carrier.
These floating fortresses guarantee US Navy’s supremacy in the seas, but the distance is shortening.
