B

The Submarine Capability of Other Nations

Box B.1 lists the current submarine capabilities of nations worldwide. In the future, submarines can potentially be a serious threat to U.S. power projection forces (see Box B.2). The United States may face a spectrum of force levels and capabilities of submarines. Examples include the following:

• Russia. Many, including very capable nuclear-powered submarines operating worldwide, potentially challenging the United States in every corner of the globe.
• China. Many, some of which could be advanced-technology submarines operating up to 2,500 km from the Chinese coast, capable of challenging the United States in the western Pacific (China has committed to three new submarine development programs: SS, SSN, and SSBN).
• Iran. A few medium-technology submarines operating in the Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, and the Arabian Sea, challenging the right of passage of ships.
• Korea. Many medium- and low-technology submarines operating essentially as a distributed, smart minefield preventing operation of U.S. naval forces in waters contiguous to both North and South Korea.

BOX B.1 Current Operational Submarines (Estimates as of January 1997)

Russia	120 (77 nuclear, 43 diesel)
China	70 (6 nuclear, 64 diesel)
North Korea	40
Germany	17
France	17 (11 nuclear, 6 diesel)
India	18
Turkey	16
Japan	16
United Kingdom	14 (all nuclear)
Norway	12
Sweden	9
Italy	9
Greece	8
Peru	8
Spain	8
Pakistan	6
South Korea	8
Denmark	5
Brazil	5
Yugoslavia	3
Netherlands	4
Egypt	4
Argentina	4
Chile	4
Taiwan	4
Australia	3
Canada	3
Israel	3
Poland	3
Portugal	3
South Africa	3
Bulgaria	2
Albania	2
Columbia	2
Ecuador	2
Indonesia	2
Iran	3
Venezuela	2
Algeria	2
Romania	1
Singapore	1

NOTE: All submarines are diesel unless specified.

BOX B.2 Submarines on Order or Under Construction, January 1997

Australia	1 COLLINS Class SS in trials, 4 more U/C or on order
Brazil	1 Type 209 SS fitting out, 1 U/C; 1 enlarged Type 209 on order
China	1 or more SONG U/C; 1 Type 094 SSBN possibly U/C
France	1 LE TRIOMPHANT SSBN U/C; 1 AGOSTA-90B SS U/C for Pakistan
Germany	4 Type 212 SS on order; 1 Type 800 SS on trials and 2 U/C for Israel
India	2 Type 209/1500 SS projected, if funding provided
Italy	2 Type 212 SS authorized (to deliver 2003, 2005)
Japan	1 HARUSHIO SS fitting out, 1 OYASHIO SS fitting out, 3 more authorized or U/C
Korea, North	Estimated up to 6 SANGO SSC U/C or fitting out
Korea, South	1 Type 209/1200 SS fitting out, 2 U/C
Pakistan	2 AGOSTA-90B on order (1 to have hull built in France for fitting out in Pakistan)
Russia	1 BOREY SSBN U/C, 1 OSCAR-II SSGN U/C, 1 SEVERODVINSK SSN U/C; 4 AKULA-II SSN U/C, 2 PROJECT 636 KILO SS U/C for China, 1 PROJECT 677 AMUR SS on order (private, for lease to Russian Navy)
Sweden	2 GOTLAND SS fitting out
Turkey	2 Type 209/1400 U/C
United Kingdom	1 VANGUARD SSBN U/C
United States	1 OHIO SSBN fitting out, 1 SEAWOLF SSN in trials, 2 SEAWOLF SSN U/C, 4 NSSN SSN authorized