Evaluated screen

Nuclear-Armed Submarines

Identifies companies that are involved in the development, production, assembly, integration, or sale of submarines designed, configured, or materially modified to carry and launch nuclear weapons, including ballistic-missile submarines and other submarine platforms with a verified nuclear-strike role.

Type
Evaluated
Version
2026.08.21.2
Published
Aug 21, 2026
Inclusions
7
Exclusions
9
How to read this definition

Inclusion criteria describe evidence that can establish this activity. Exclusion criteria identify circumstances that do not establish it on that basis alone. The evaluation remains connected to its taxonomy version and supporting evidence.

Can establish this activity

Included when supported

Evidence may support involvement when it matches one or more of these inclusion criteria.

7 criteria
  1. 01Criterion

    Nuclear-Armed Submarine Designers

    Defined as: Companies that design complete submarine platforms intended to carry and launch nuclear weapons.

  2. 02Criterion

    Nuclear-Armed Submarine Manufacturers

    Defined as: Companies that manufacture complete ballistic-missile submarines or other submarine platforms with a verified nuclear-weapons delivery role.

  3. 03Criterion

    Nuclear-Armed Submarine Prime Contractors

    Defined as: Companies serving as prime contractors for the construction, delivery, or material integration of an identified nuclear-armed submarine class.

  4. 04Criterion

    Nuclear-Armed Submarine System Integrators

    Defined as: Companies responsible for final platform integration of the submarine, its nuclear-weapons mission systems, and its launch capability.

  5. 05Criterion

    Submarine Nuclear-Weapons Mission Conversion

    Defined as: Companies that materially modify, convert, or certify submarines to carry or launch nuclear weapons.

  6. 06Criterion

    Government Contracts for Nuclear-Armed Submarine Platforms

    Defined as: Companies awarded or materially participating in contracts involving the design, construction, final assembly, conversion, or material integration of an identified nuclear-armed submarine platform.

  7. 07Criterion

    Verified Nuclear Cruise-Missile Submarine Producers

    Defined as: Companies involved in submarines configured for a verified nuclear-armed cruise-missile mission, even where the platform is not classified as a ballistic-missile submarine.

Does not establish this activity on its own

Excluded on this basis alone

These circumstances do not establish this activity unless separate evidence also meets an inclusion criterion.

9 criteria
  1. 01Criterion

    Nuclear-Powered but Conventionally Armed Submarines

    Defined as: Companies involved in nuclear-powered attack, patrol, support, or special-purpose submarines where no nuclear-weapons delivery role is established.

  2. 02Criterion

    Conventionally Powered and Conventionally Armed Submarines

    Defined as: Companies involved in conventionally powered submarines or conventionally armed submarine platforms without a verified nuclear-weapons delivery role.

  3. 03Criterion

    Submarine Nuclear Propulsion Suppliers Only

    Defined as: Companies that supply naval reactors, propulsion plants, fuel, or propulsion services without involvement in the nuclear-weapons delivery function of the submarine platform.

  4. 04Criterion

    Nuclear Missile Manufacturers Only

    Defined as: Companies that produce submarine-launched nuclear missiles but are not involved in the design, construction, conversion, or integration of the submarine platform.

  5. 05Criterion

    Generic or Non-Nuclear-Specific Submarine Components

    Defined as: Companies that supply sonar, navigation, communications, hull, electrical, mechanical, or other submarine components without a nuclear-weapons-specific function.

  6. 06Criterion

    Maintenance and Support Services Only

    Defined as: Companies that only maintain, refit, secure, or support nuclear-armed submarines without involvement in the submarine platform’s design, construction, conversion, or material integration.

  7. 07Criterion

    Unverified Theoretical Nuclear Capability

    Defined as: Companies involved in submarines that could theoretically carry a nuclear-capable weapon where the nuclear mission is not designed, contracted, certified, operationally assigned, or otherwise credibly verified.

  8. 08Criterion

    Nuclear-Weapons-Specific Submarine Components Without Platform Role

    Defined as: Companies that produce missile compartments, launch tubes, weapons-handling systems, nuclear-specific fire-control systems, or other components for nuclear-armed submarines but do not design, build, convert, or integrate the complete submarine platform. Evaluate these companies under Nuclear Weapons Components and Materials or Nuclear Missile Launchers and Launch Infrastructure where applicable.

  9. 09Criterion

    Generic Shipyard or Infrastructure Services

    Defined as: Companies that provide generic shipyard construction, facilities, dockyard, office, logistics, civil infrastructure, or engineering services without a demonstrated nuclear-armed submarine platform role.

Evidence and evaluation methodology

How sources, entity pathways, decisions, qualifiers, and review history are handled.

Map screens to a client policy

How to choose provider screens, document coverage, and decide what happens after an outcome.

Other screens under Nuclear Delivery Systems

Taxonomy version 2026.08.21.2, published Aug 21, 2026. Material changes receive a new immutable release so earlier evaluations remain tied to the definitions and criteria used.

Nuclear Delivery Systems