ISTANBUL 

According to a US defense analyst, China’s latest nuclear submarine reportedly sank in the spring and the incident has been concealed by the Chinese Navy, as reported by CNN.

The unusual activity at the shipyard was first observed by Tom Shugart, an adjunct senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security, who routinely analyzes satellite imagery of Chinese shipyards.

Shugart, based on a satellite image taken on March 10 by Maxar Technologies, discussed the submarine's disappearance in an interview with CNN.

The satellite image shows the Zhou-class nuclear submarine, identifiable by its signature X-shaped tail, docked at a port, according to Shugart.

“I’ve never seen a bunch of cranes clustered around (one spot),” Shugart noted. “If you go back and look at historical imagery, you can see one crane, but not a bunch clustered there.”

By examining older satellite images of the same shipyard, Shugart also pointed out the submarine’s larger size and distinctive tail, suggesting it was a new class of submarine.

“Usually, those submarines, after they get launched, they’re there at the shipyard for several months in outfitting. And it wasn’t there anymore,” Shugart said.

“It’s not surprising that the PLA Navy would try to conceal the fact that their new first-in-class nuclear-powered attack submarine sank pierside,” said Shugart.