Type 096 submarine
Chinese nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine class
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Type 096 (NATO reporting name: Tang class) is a projected class of nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) for China's People's Liberation Army Navy Submarine Force. The submarine was expected to begin construction in the early 2020s and be armed with the JL-3 SLBM.[1][2]
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name | Type 096 |
| Operators |  People's Liberation Army Navy |
| Preceded by | Type 094 submarine |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | SSBN |
| Displacement | 20,000 tons (submerged) |
| Propulsion | Nuclear reactor |
| Armament | JL-3 SLBMs (?) |
Recent analysis deduced that China is on track to complete the first Type 096 and make it operational before the end of the decade.[3] Type 096 submarine is believed to improve China's undersea second strike capability.[4][5]
The submarine is believed to have similar acoustic quieting technology used in Russia's Akula-class submarine.[6]
Specifications and details
The Type 096 will be the most modern Chinese submarines in terms of stealth, sensors and weapons. The capabilities of the Type 096 are speculated to be a significant jump to its predecessors, which would flip the balance in the Indo-Pacific.[3] In November 2023, satellite imagery on the Huludao shipyard showed pressure hull sections for a large submarine being worked up, which was then stated to likely be the Type 096 in early construction.[3] The vessel is also speculated to be significantly larger than the old Type 094, estimated to displace 20,000 tons when fully submerged,[7] and follows a design similar to that of Russia's; allowing it to contain an internal raft mounted on complex rubber supports that helps dampen the noise of the submarine's engines.[3]
