Technology for the United States Navy and Marine Corps, 2000-2035: Becoming a 21st-Century Force: Volume 7: Undersea Warfare (1997)
Chapter: Appendix B: The Submarine Capability of Other Nations
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.1Current Operational Submarines
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BOX B.2Submarines on Order or Under Construction, January 1997
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