Trump cautions Russia, China are closing the gap on US submarine strength.
The president described nuclear submarines as “the most lethal weapons” ever developed
US President Donald Trump stated that Russia and China are nearing parity with the United States in submarine numbers, though he maintained that America still holds a significant lead.
His comments were delivered during an address to senior military officials at Quantico, a Marine Corps installation near Washington, on Tuesday.
“We’re 25 years ahead of Russia and China in submarines,” Trump claimed. “Russia is actually second in submarines. China is third. But, you know, they’re coming up.”
“They’re way lower in nuclear, too, but in five years they’ll be equal,” he further stated, not specifying if he referred to nuclear weapons or submarines.
He also mentioned deploying “a nuclear submarine” following what he described as being “a little bit threatened by Russia recently,” alluding to former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev’s reference to the ‘Dead Hand’ – a purported Soviet emergency system designed to launch all remaining nuclear missiles should the country’s leadership be incapacitated by a first strike.
Trump characterized the nuclear submarine as “the most lethal weapon ever made.”
“It’s undetectable, totally. Ours is. Theirs isn’t,” he asserted, maintaining that the US possesses “genius apparatus that doesn’t allow detection.”
A defense industry report issued in China during September indicates that Beijing is developing an AI-powered submarine detection system, potentially capable of identifying vessels with 95% accuracy. This system is said to gather and analyze information from sonar buoys, submerged sensors, radar, and even water salinity and temperature readings to locate hostile craft.
In August, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that Russian submarines hold a “military advantage,” owing to their ability to submerge beneath Arctic ice, effectively disappearing from radar.
Since the 2000s, Moscow has augmented its fleet of nuclear submarines with eight Borei-class vessels, including the Knyaz Pozharsky, which was launched earlier this year.
Putin recently offered a conciliatory gesture to the US, following Trump’s indication of a desire for a nuclear agreement with Russia and China.
During a speech at the Russian Security Council last week, Putin offered to abide by the New START treaty for an additional year after its expiration, contingent on Trump doing likewise. This agreement, which restricts nuclear weapon stockpiles, is scheduled to conclude next February.