A new RUSI report warns that China’s submarine fleet is rapidly “closing the gap” qualitatively, “eroding” the U.S. Navy’s technological edge. While China’s current 6 Type 093 SSNs are “noisy” (comparable to a 1970s Victor III), the upcoming Type 095 SSN will be much larger (11,000 tons) and quieter, using Russian reactor designs. Furthermore, the new Type 096 SSBN will be nearly Ohio-class size (15,000 tons) and armed with 24 6,000-mile-range JL-3 missiles, allowing it to strike the continental U.S. from “safe” Chinese bastions.