Does China Have a Nuclear Submarine That Could Beat the U.S. Navy?

Greg - I thought that the Chinese were trying to replicate the Soviet Kilo Class Attack Submarines and substitute their Diesel-Electric propulsion system with the Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) systems employed by the Swedish displacement Gotland Class attack subs?

LTC Orlando Illi - They're trying, yes. We'll see how it goes. They still won't have the 100 years of institutional experience at sub warfare and anti-sub warfare. My no was not predicated on an individual type of sub that may or may not be good, but rather on our ability to kill it anyway, although subs do represent the greatest threat to our fleet.

SN Greg Wright - I was informed during USMC Command and Staff College that the Kilo Class was the most feared because it was hard to detect because of its electric drive. The AIP propulsion system is rumored to be even more silent which will render even harder to detect via passive sonar. You'e right - we'll see

DoD as a whole - ESPECIALLY under republican rule - tow the same line. If they didn't - why would you the taxpayer fund their advances and research?