Alejandro Alcolea
WriterWriter at Xataka. I studied education and music, but since 2014 I've been writing about my passion: video games and technology. I specialize in product analysis, photography, and video. My body is 70% coffee.
China’s military modernization extends beyond aircraft carriers and new fighter jets, which serve as tools for battlefield superiority and deterrence. The country is heavily investing in modernizing and expanding its fleet, including its nuclear-capable submarines.
After the not-so-successful Type 094, China is finalizing the Type 096 nuclear submarine. Naturally, it has drawn the attention of its main rivals in a scenario reminiscent of the Cold War.
Strengthening its naval presence. Modernizing its primary military weapons has become a key strategy of President Xi Jinping’s government. Progress spans all areas, including new land-based weapons, stealth ships, aircraft carriers led by the electromagnetic Fujian, heavy helicopters, fighter jets, and even space weapons.
The weakest link in China’s navy is its ballistic missile submarines, or SSBNs. Not only are they few in number, but their design and capabilities lag behind those of the world’s most advanced naval powers. A prime example is the Type 094, introduced in the early 21st century.
Type 094. To close the gap with the U.S. and maintain a strong presence in the South China Sea, China launched the Type 094—a nuclear-powered, ballistic missile-carrying submarine that succeeded the Type 092 of the mid-1980s. The country is believed to have six active units, but their performance has been inconsistent.
Type 096. The Type 094’s biggest flaw is its noise, caused by an outdated propulsion system based on Soviet-era Cold War technology. Its hull design, propellers, and insulation system are ineffective for stealth missions. China has introduced quieter variants, such as the Type 094A, but they remain too noisy—an easy target in modern anti-submarine warfare.
That’s where the Type 096 comes in. China plans to build six submarines of this class, with twice the displacement and ballistic missile capacity of its predecessor. Instead of prioritizing combat improvements, China’s primary goal is to address the noise issue. The Type 096 is designed to match the stealth capabilities of Russia’s most advanced submarines while incorporating enhanced technology for detecting rival submarines.
Challenges. According to the South China Morning Post, part of the design effort has focused on reducing engine noise. Some speculate that, like modern Russian submarines, the Type 096’s engines will be mounted on massive rubber mounts to muffle sound. The submarine is expected to be ready by the end of the decade.
However, despite its collaboration with Russia and access to advanced technology, China still lacks experience in SSBN development. The U.S. and Russia have spent decades refining their nuclear submarine programs, and it remains to be seen whether China has made the leap it seeks when the Type 096 enters service.
Attracting attention. According to Reuters, naval intelligence authorities and analysts believe the Type 096 “will be a nightmare.” They argue it will be “very, very difficult to detect.” There are also reports that Russia has shared some of its submarine technology with China to improve acoustic efficiency. However, experts believe Russia has withheld its most sensitive technologies to maintain a competitive advantage in case relations sour.
U.S. analysts have speculated about the potential impact of the Type 096 on the U.S. and its Indo-Pacific allies, warning that its presence could have “profound” consequences in a region of growing geopolitical importance. One example of ongoing tensions occurred in June 2023, when a Type 094 surfaced in the Taiwan Strait, underscoring the high-stakes military dynamics in the area.
Image | Xataka On with Grok
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