Large Chinese 'sailless' submarine design spotted at Jiangnan Shipyard

Satellite imagery shows a new large Chinese submarine with an apparent absence of a traditional sail, plus an X-form stern and possible shrouded/pumpjet propulsor. A sailless hullform could reduce drag and acoustic signature, improving submerged speed and stealth, though it imposes constraints on mast/sensor/snorkel arrangements. If this represents an operational design (not just a demonstrator), it may indicate a notable shift in PLAN submarine architecture toward lower-observable, high-performance undersea platforms.