Technology
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Updated Google Earth satellite images of a Chinese naval base appear to show at least six nuclear submarines, according to naval analyst Alex Luck.
The rest of this article is behind a paywall. Please sign in or subscribe to access the full content.Google Maps is a pretty useful service, taking satellite images and street views of pretty much every accessible area of the planet. But there are a few places which governments around the world would rather you didn't see, for example, several military bases and national security headquarters.
But plenty are there for all to see. In the latest update of Google satellite imagery of the Qingdao First Submarine Base, in Shandong, China, at least six nuclear submarines can be seen.
While the vessels include one SSBN (Ship Submersible Ballistic Nuclear) submarine, the submersibles are likely conventionally armed. One vessel spotted by Luck on land appeared to be undergoing maintenance or was being dismantled at the end of operations.
China is estimated to have around 600 nuclear warheads, a small number compared to the US's 5,000+, though certainly enough to throw the world into nuclear winter. The country, which has a no-first-use policy on nuclear weapons, largely has ground and air-based nuclear deterrents, though more recently it has added to its nuclear-capable underwater fleet.
"The People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) of China possesses both a nuclear-powered submarine fleet and a robust diesel-electric submarine fleet," the Nuclear Threat Initiative explains.
"While the PLAN is currently developing its nuclear-powered submarine capabilities, its diesel-electric submarine fleet remains the backbone of China’s submarine forces. According to United States government reports, the PLAN is expected to grow its fleet to 65 submarines by 2025."
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