As tensions rise in the South China Sea, China’s submarines will have their work cut out for them.
The People’s Republic of China continues to make the expansion of its naval fleet a top priority. From aircraft carriers and fighter jets to other warships and submarines, Beijing’s sea-based capabilities should be of great concern to US officials. Earlier this year, a new Chinese submarine, equipped with a distinctive and modern look, was observed. Satellite imagery captured the vessel, whose presence at Guangzhou Shipyard was a surprise to Western analysts. As the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) continues to build, an overview of some of China’s known submarine capabilities is warranted.
Type 039 Yuan
Last year, Beijing launched what may be the nation’s most sophisticated diesel-electric submarine. According to reports, the Type 039A/B/C submarine series, designated as the Yuan-class by NATO, represents China’s first AIP (air-independent) powered submarine. The US Naval Institute described the public renderings of the Chinese vessel in detail years earlier. Contrary to some reports detailing the Yuan vessel as tiny, USNI reported the submarine to actually be large and only marginally smaller than the previous Soryu-class boats. The report also found the Yuan submarines to be primarily designed as “an anti-ship cruise missile (ASCM) platform capable of hiding submerged for long periods of time in difficult to access shallow littorals.”
Type 093 Shang
Upon commissioning nearly two decades ago, China’s Type 093 Shang-class of nuclear-powered attack submarines have served PLAN’s naval strategy. The initial Shang submarines introduced were equipped with Russian-designed acoustic dampening technology. Reverse-engineered and developed from the Kilo-class vessels procured from Russia, this technology enables the submarines to be difficult for adversaries to detect. Subsequent Type 093 variants were equipped with more advanced additions. Notably, the Type 093B possesses pump-jet propulsion. In terms of armament power, the Shang submarines are lethal. These vessels are fitted with the YJ-18 anti-ship ballistic missiles which each have a range of roughly 400 kilometers.
Type 094 Jin
The PLAN’s fleet of Type 094 nuclear-powered ballistic missile subs represented the nation’s premiere credible sea-based nuclear deterrent when introduced, according to the US Department of Defense. Beijing currently operates six Jin-class vessels, which are capable of traveling at speeds in excess of 20 knots when submerged. Western analysts previously noted that this Chinese platform has an acoustic signature low enough to make it comparable to the American-made Los Angeles-class sub series. In terms of weaponry, the Jin submarines can sport up to one dozen JL-2 SLBMs. Notably, the Jin platform is China’s largest and newest strategic submarine among its growing fleet.
Considering the rising threat climate in the South China Sea, the potential for a full-blown military engagement between Beijing and Washington is increasing. Since future naval conflict will likely feature submarines in some capacity, maintaining a superior fleet is essential. The United States is currently developing its next-generation SSN(X) platform, designed to out-pace even the greatest Chinese submarine capabilities in service today.
About the Author: Maya Carlin
Maya Carlin, National Security Writer with The National Interest, is an analyst with the Center for Security Policy and a former Anna Sobol Levy Fellow at IDC Herzliya in Israel. She has by-lines in many publications, including The National Interest, Jerusalem Post, and Times of Israel. You can follow her on Twitter: @MayaCarlin. Carlin has over 1,000 articles published over the last several years on various defense issues.
Image: DVIDS.
