China launched two new types of nuclear attack submarine in Feb and June 2026 [1331 x 802]

China's launch of two new classes of nuclear attack submarines (Type 095 and likely a sailless variant) in early 2026 represents a quantifiable acceleration of PLA undersea expansion that directly erodes Australia's maritime dominance assumptions and compounds the strategic urgency of AUKUS submarine delivery. This dual-track submarine advancement materially shifts the Indo-Pacific power balance and elevates threat credibility to sea lanes, allied force projection, and Taiwan contingencies that Australia cannot independently counter without accelerated ADF submarine operationalisation.