Nuclear submarines are the future

 

Indo-Pacific: the new frontline of next-gen nuclear subs

The Boomer Boom: US to renew submarine fleet as India and China follow   China's submarine-launched nuclear missiles cannot reach the U.S. East Coast unless the ballistic-missile submarines (SSBNs) carrying them travel all the way across the Pacific to east of Hawaii.   But that could change if China extends the range of its missiles. If Beijing can fire missiles from the depths of the South China Sea, it would transform strategies on both sides of the Pacific.   Meanwhile, the U.S. Navy has made clear that replacing its aging ballistic-missile subs, or "boombers," is the top priority, allocating $5 billion in its latest budget request for procuring the lead ship of the new Columbia class SSBNs. The Columbia subs are designed to never need refueling -- something vital for a vessel that cannot easily dock in foreign ports, given its nuclear payload.   The ballistic-missile submarine is one area America retains a big advantage over China. The shallow waters surrounding China create problems for hiding People's Liberation Army Navy subs, and access to deeper waters requires passing through geographical choke points.   Meanwhile, India has commissioned its maiden SSBN, making it the first country outside the permanent U.N. Security Council members to deploy one. But as Ken Moriyasu reports, even smaller navies like those of Pakistan and North Korea are getting into the high-stakes underwater game.