Why submarine attacks may prove to be the Achilles’ heel for China’s new carrier fleet

The PLA Navy is still lagging behind the US in undersea warfare, according to a report highlighting some of its ongoing vulnerabilities

A recent report from the Washington-based Centre for Strategic and International Studies outlined a “cost-imposition” strategy that could help the US and its allies threaten China’s carriers.

It included the use of land-based strike networks, long-range air strikes supported by satellites, cyber and electromagnetic attacks, and drone swarms.

However, the fifth element of this strategy – submarine ambushes – is where many analysts believe the Chinese navy is most vulnerable.

Specifically, the report identified US attack submarines operating in the western Pacific as one of the most potent threats to Chinese carrier groups, arguing that gaps in the navy’s undersea detection and tracking capabilities could leave the high-value ships exposed.