China now operates world's 2nd-largest nuclear submarine fleet

China has surpassed Russia to become the world’s second-largest operator of nuclear-powered submarines, now fielding an estimated 32 active boats compared to Russia’s 25 to 28. Only the United States maintains a larger fleet, with about 71 nuclear submarines as of the end of 2025. China’s fleet includes a diverse mix of attack, guided-missile, and ballistic missile submarines, reflecting a maturing undersea force. Key components include nine Type 093/093A Shang-class attack submarines, approximately 16 Type 093B guided-missile submarines (the largest production run of nuclear strike subs globally), and nine Type 094/094A Jin-class ballistic missile submarines equipped with JL-2 and JL-3 missiles. China is also developing next-generation subs—Type 095 attack and Type 096 ballistic missile submarines—to enhance stealth and survivability. Russia, traditionally the second-largest nuclear submarine operator, now ranks third due to China’s