China has recently commissioned a “new strategic nuclear-powered submarine”, according to a 22 April report by the state-owned Global Times newspaper.
Written to reflect recent achievements of the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) in celebration of the 71st anniversary of the establishment of the naval service, the report refers to “new weapons” entering service including the Type 055 destroyer, the first domestically built aircraft carrier, and new anti-submarine patrol aircraft (the KQ-200), as well as the new submarine.
The report does not identify the type of submarine but the description that it is a “strategic” asset suggests that it is referring to a nuclear ballistic missile-carrying submarine (SSBN). Although referred to as a new weapon, it is unlikely that this is the first of the next-generation Type 096 SSBNs. The interval between launch and commissioning of the first Type 096 could be up to four years and a new design has not yet become evident in satellite imagery.
One of the PLAN’s Type 094 SSBNs during a fleet review in April 2019. Global Times reported on 22 April that the service recently commissioned a “new strategic nuclear-powered submarine”. No details were provided by the paper but it is possible that it is referring to a further improved Type 094. (TASS)
It is therefore more likely that the report is referring to the commissioning of another Type 094 (Jin)-class SSBN. Satellite imagery from 2018 showed two Type 094 hulls at the nuclear submarine building yard at Huludao. These were assessed to be the fifth and sixth of the class to be built, with one of them likely to have entered service by now.
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