Given current Russian financial trends, it seems very unlikely that these losses can be replaced. Further cuts in the Russian defense budget are inevitable. These cuts will undoubtedly affect both the force structure and future procurement in the submarine fleet. The Chinese submarine fleet also poses no threat to the U.S. Navy. The Chinese currently have only five SSNs, and an additional 55 conventional subs, all outdated by U.S. standards.
None even come close to approaching U.S. sub capability.
Mastery of the littoral should not be presumed. It does not derive directly from command of the seas. Like the Seawolf , the NSSN has not been designed to operate in this environment, nor was the NSSN designed to perform against small, advanced diesel subs in these difficult conditions. The U.S. Navy should work toward constructing an inexpensive sub specifically designed to operate primarily in the littoral, against the advanced diesel subs that are proliferating in the developing world. There simply is insufficient new construction to support two shipyards.