In a closely-watched news conference today, Saudi defence spokesman Abdullah al-Hazrad al-Luti confirmed speculation that the oil-rich kingdom was on the verge of commissioning its first nuclear submarines, a variant of the Type 093 class purchased from China.

"Saudi Arabia has purchased six Type 093E submarines which are currently nearing completion in the Huludao shipyard," said al-Luti, referring to the newly-revealed export version of the nuclear-powered vessel. "These are the first nuclear submarines of any Arab or Islamic country, and will greatly enhance the Royal Saudi Navy's combat power. One of the reasons this particular submarine class was chosen was the unique drone launcher located [in a small hump] behind the sail, which the Saudi naval delegation had the opportunity to examine in person two years ago. This [launcher] raises to extend a telescoping cylinder containing a large stack of stealthy saucer-shaped drones capable of very rapid underwater deployment and recovery. No other submarine in the world has this ability." He added that the saucer drones, designated the Tu'er Shen, were equipped with launching racks concealed in a ventral bay containing even smaller lozenge-shaped sub-drones. The sub-drones can be configured to carry reconnaissance payloads or operate as kamikaze UAVs, said al-Luti, and are capable of sudden high-speed maneuvers no manned aircraft can perform. The drone launching system is installed aboard all newer versions of the Type 093 and has been in undisclosed operation for several years, although it has never before been exported.

The Type 093 class, over 110 metres in length, is the mainstay of the Chinese nuclear submarine fleet and is armed with six 533mm torpedo tubes which are capable of firing encapsulated YJ-82 and YJ-18 antiship missiles in addition to torpedoes. Its nuclear propulsion effectively gives the submarine unlimited range. The Type 093's newly revealed drone capabilities had not been previously announced, and the purpose of the shallow hump behind its sail was the subject of much internet speculation, with netizens suggesting functions ranging from hidden cruise missile launch tubes to a storage housing for a top-secret towed sonar.

Al-Luti added that the new submarines would be stationed on the Red Sea coast. Although he did not give specific details, Saudi Arabia is believed to be constructing extensive naval facilities at the futuristic new city of Neom. The massive navy base, named Neopia after its opulent host city, may contain underground submarine pens similar to the tunnels long used by the Chinese Navy to house its own nuclear subs.