Key facts
- A US Navy officer and some Washington experts were described as receptive to Japan acquiring nuclear-powered submarines, per a November 3, 2026 report.
- The report said the vessels would let the Japan Self-Defense Forces operate across a wider area of Asia, including the western Pacific.
- The report said such submarines would let Japan deter China more effectively.
- The report said financial and personnel burdens remain high hurdles for Japan to acquire nuclear submarines.
Some experts in Washington, including a U.S. Navy officer, are showing receptiveness to the idea of Japan acquiring nuclear-powered submarines, according to a report dated November 3, 2026. The report said the vessels would let the Japan Self-Defense Forces operate more widely across Asia, including the western Pacific, and improve its ability to deter China.