China’s navy has quietly commissioned a new submarine for its eastern fleet
- Image showing handover of the new Type 039 variant was included in a PLA report on a smart canteen for sailors
- It reveals the unusual sail design, which analysts say could be to improve stealth or to launch vertical cruise missiles
China’s navy has recently commissioned a new type of diesel-powered submarine with an unusual sail design that may improve stealth, according to an image released in an official report.
The report was on a smart canteen for sailors in Ningbo, Zhejiang – the headquarters of the naval fleet for the Eastern Theatre Command that oversees the Taiwan Strait – and was posted on the PLA Navy’s WeChat account on Monday.
It includes a photo of sailors at a dining table, and in the background is a large image showing a handover ceremony for a new variant of the Type 039 submarine that reveals the distinctive sail.
“[The commissioning] happened just recently as some of the older submarines need to be replaced,” said the source, who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter.
China has not formally revealed the name or details of the new submarine, though some analysts have referred to it as the Type 039D.