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Suggested Citation:"Appendix B: The Submarine Capability of Other Nations." National Research Council. 1997. Technology for the United States Navy and Marine Corps, 2000-2035: Becoming a 21st-Century Force: Volume 7: Undersea Warfare. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/5867.
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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.

Suggested Citation:"Appendix B: The Submarine Capability of Other Nations." National Research Council. 1997. Technology for the United States Navy and Marine Corps, 2000-2035: Becoming a 21st-Century Force: Volume 7: Undersea Warfare. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/5867.
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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

Suggested Citation:"Appendix B: The Submarine Capability of Other Nations." National Research Council. 1997. Technology for the United States Navy and Marine Corps, 2000-2035: Becoming a 21st-Century Force: Volume 7: Undersea Warfare. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/5867.
×

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

Suggested Citation:"Appendix B: The Submarine Capability of Other Nations." National Research Council. 1997. Technology for the United States Navy and Marine Corps, 2000-2035: Becoming a 21st-Century Force: Volume 7: Undersea Warfare. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/5867.
×
Page 90
Suggested Citation:"Appendix B: The Submarine Capability of Other Nations." National Research Council. 1997. Technology for the United States Navy and Marine Corps, 2000-2035: Becoming a 21st-Century Force: Volume 7: Undersea Warfare. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/5867.
×
Page 91
Suggested Citation:"Appendix B: The Submarine Capability of Other Nations." National Research Council. 1997. Technology for the United States Navy and Marine Corps, 2000-2035: Becoming a 21st-Century Force: Volume 7: Undersea Warfare. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/5867.
×
Page 92
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