U.S. President Donald Trump expressed the opinion that the United States is 25 years ahead of Russia and China in the development of nuclear submarines (SSNs). Military expert Boris Rozhin explained why this point of view is erroneous.
By Numbers, Not Skill?
He pointed out that as of 2025, the U.S. Navy (USN) nominally has 71 nuclear submarines of all types in service, while Russia has 54 nuclear submarines of all types. According to open sources, China has 15 submarines, with dozens more under construction.
In the long term, this will allow them to catch up with Russia and the United States, as the Chinese submarine construction rates currently exceed ours and the Americans'. But this will happen if Moscow and Washington do not increase their own SSN production.
Rozhin noted that in all three countries, strategic SSBNs are an important part of the nuclear triad. However, Russia has to overcome the consequences of the collapse of the USSR, which dealt a sensitive blow to our submarine nuclear fleet.
Nevertheless, there is no question of any multiple superiority in the number of boats or of construction technologies lagging behind by 25 years. Even according to Pentagon reports, the Russian submarine nuclear fleet is one of the main strategic threats to the United States. And we are strengthening it regardless of Trump's public rhetoric.
Less, but Better
The specialist recalled that in recent decades, the pace of construction of new boats has increased, and this primarily concerns the construction of ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs). From the point of view of strike capabilities, they are more than competitive, which is recognized by American specialists.
The main disproportion lies not so much in comparing the characteristics of individual boats, but in the advantages of the United States in naval and submarine intelligence.
They have been developing them since the Cold War, striving to create a situation where Russian or Chinese nuclear submarines can be quickly detected leaving their bases in order to direct anti-submarine warfare assets at them as part of the concept of a preemptive strike.
Rozhin concluded that Russia needs not only to maintain the current size of its submarine nuclear fleet, but also to prevent the growth of the U.S. and Chinese submarine fleets in the long term, as well as the U.S. attempts to create nuclear disparity.
Earlier www1.ru reported that "Uravagonzavod" increased the firing range of the TOS-1A "Solntsepek" almost 2 times.