US Navy's top intelligence official, Rear Adm. Mike Brookes, has warned that China's Submarine Fleet could soon go all-Nuclear, with over 60 submarines currently being operationalized and around 14 being nuclear-powered. By 2035, the total is expected to grow to 80, with about half of those being nuclear. This shift is seen as a departure from historical construction patterns. China has been investing in three major shipyards over the past decade to upgrade them, and this has led to higher submarine production rates. A report from the International Institute of Strategic Studies (IISS) also backed these findings up with satellite imagery. However, the report noted that noise levels remain a limiting factor for Chinese subs.