New satellite imagery taken on September 18, 2026, of a Chinese next-generation nuclear-powered attack submarine under construction at the Bohai Shipyard in Huludao reveals a pumpjet propulsor and an X-shaped stern plane arrangement, according to The War Zone, which obtained the image from Vantor. A separate Vantor image from September 1 was reported on by Janes, which described the boat as a Type 095, a commonly used but unofficial designation.
The pumpjet propulsor is also understood to be a feature on the Type 093B nuclear-powered attack submarine, a significantly improved variation of an earlier design that first emerged in the early 2020s. Compared to traditional exposed propellers and more basic shrouded types, pumpjets offer quieter operation and efficiencies, especially at higher submerged speeds.
The X-shaped stern configuration is not found on the Type 093B, which is considered a bridge between that class and the next-generation design. An X-shaped configuration offers advantages in maneuverability, efficiency, and safety, particularly in littoral environments, and can reduce acoustic signature across significant parts of the operating envelope compared to cruciform stern planes. Another Chinese submarine design that emerged in 2024, referred to as the Type 041 or Zhou class, which is understood to feature a hybrid nuclear/conventional propulsion system, also has an X-shaped stern configuration.
The September 1 image showed an open rectangular-shaped section aft of the sail, which could be where a vertical launch system (VLS) array is set to be fitted, or it might provide access to the reactor compartment or another area of the submarine. The September 18 image shows a structure placed over that section, obscuring ongoing work. The Type 095 is widely expected to feature some type of VLS array able to accommodate anti-ship and land-attack cruise missiles, as well as potentially hypersonic types, and is sometimes referred to as a guided missile submarine, or SSGN.
The September 18 image also shows at least two relatively large circular openings, side-by-side, at the bow end of the submarine in front of the sail, the purpose of which is not immediately clear. They could be for vertically launching munitions or other payloads, or they could be tied to the submarine’s main sonar array installation.
Alex Luck, a naval analyst who closely tracks submarine and Chinese navy developments, cautioned against jumping to conclusions about the VLS configuration from publicly available imagery, noting the space could also be related to work on the reactor compartment. He pointed out that with the Type 093B, the VLS after launch was initially covered with a tarp, and the installed launchers were readily visible quickly during fitting-out.
The imagery offers fresh, concrete intelligence on China’s expanding undersea capabilities, with the Type 095 expected to feature a VLS array and other advanced systems, according to the sources.
Sources: DVIDS News · US Army