On June 1, 2026, a satellite operated by the American company Vantor captured an image of the Jiangnan Shipyard in Shanghai, which is part of the China State Shipbuilding Corporation. The image revealed a submarine about 120 meters long moored near a barge. Analysts highlighted specific design features, including an X-shaped rudder, a configuration first seen on a Chinese submarine in 2024, and possibly a carapace-type pumpjet propeller, which is known for reducing noise. However, the most striking feature was the absence of a conning tower, a structure typically found on submarines to house periscopes, communication masts, and a schnorchel—a device used to draw in air while submerged. The newly spotted Chinese submarine is slightly longer than a U.S. Virginia-class attack submarine, which is 115 meters long, but much narrower than recent Chinese models like the nuclear attack submarine Type 093 variants, which are about 108 to 110 meters long and 36 feet wide. The lack of a conning tower may offer advantages such as reduced drag, lower acoustic signatures, and improved speed and maneuverability at depth. These design choices could signal advancements in stealth technology and underwater performance. This is not the first time the Jiangnan Shipyard has experimented with unconventional submarine designs. In 2018, it launched a smaller submarine without a conning tower, described as a technological demonstrator. That prototype was about 45 meters long and 15 meters wide, but it has not been publicly mentioned since. Additionally, a major Chinese naval company showcased a concept for an unmanned underwater vehicle with a hull design similar to the 2018 prototype at the Zhuhai Air Show in 2024, suggesting ongoing interest in novel submarine technologies. During the same period, a second submarine with a conventional conning tower was observed at the Bohai shipyard. Analysts believe this vessel is likely related to the future attack submarine known unofficially as the Type 095. This caused some confusion among observers until the two separate programs were identified. While the propulsion system of the Jiangnan submarine remains unclear, nuclear power is considered the most probable option given its size. Beijing has not officially commented on the design choices. Higher-resolution images obtained by Janes in late June indicated that the vessel has a structure significantly different from existing conventional and nuclear submarines in the Chinese navy, though it is still uncertain whether the conning tower is entirely absent or simply simplified.