China launches second possible Type 093B nuclear-powered attack submarine hull

[beijingwalker]

China launches second possible Type 093B nuclear-powered attack submarine hull​

by Christopher Biggers
01 FEBRUARY 2023

Planet imagery showing Type 093 SSN hull 8 during launch at Huludao shipyard in China. This is possibly the second Type 093B hull. (Planet Labs PBC/Janes)

China launched the eighth Type 093 Shang-class nuclear-powered attack submarine (SSN) at Huludao shipyard in northern China between 13 and 18 January 2023. This is the second Type 093 hull to be launched from the new assembly halls on the eastern side of the harbour.

On 11 January, the SSN was brought out to the graving dock where it was visible on a floating transfer platform with a section behind the sail partially covered. After launch, the hull was relocated to the fitting-out pier on the western side of the harbour by 18 January.

While it remains unclear whether the hull has a vertical launch system (VLS), the 2021 and 2022 annual China military report published by the US Office of the Secretary of Defense stated that a Type 093B guided-missile nuclear-powered attack submarine (SSGN) was expected by the mid-2020s.

Planet satellite imagery shows the new hull is 110 m in length, with an approximate beam of 10 m, similar to the seventh Type 093 hull launched in May 2022. After relocation to the fitting-out pier, the hull had a waterline measurement of 105 m.

The Huludao shipyard returned to Type 093 fabrication after two Type 094 SSBNs were produced between 2017 and 2021. According to satellite imagery, the Type 093s were previously in production between 2000 and 2002 and between 2013 and 2017 with two and four built, respectively.

China launches second possible Type 093B hull

China launched the eighth Type 093 Shang-class nuclear-powered attack submarine (SSN) at Huludao shipyard in northern China between 13 and 18 January 2023. This is the...

www.janes.com

 

[FuturePAF]

The Type 093B is estimated to be at the same noise level as the Improved Los Angeles class subs as well as Russian Akula Subs (which India operates and probably bases their subs); 105-110 decibels. With more modern Virginia SSN at 95 decibels.

Considering the PLAN will try to transition to the Type 095 ASAP, once the economy and political situation is stabilized, IMHO the PN should try to buy the 3 Type 093G in the mid-2030s, by which time the subs will be 20 years old and the PLA maybe willing to part with them. A pump jet sub with 16 VLS, for use to protect the SLOCs, but during heightened tensions could be a very potent strategic India specific platform, if equipped accordingly, perhaps with a design based on the YJ-21 Hypersonic glider ballistic missile (survivable against all current Indian air defenses) with a supposed range of 1500 km. (BTW, this kind of missile could be developed domestically and have an extended range three stage variant from the standard two stage variant to replace all current strategic missiles for the SPD make make the entire force survivable against Indian air defenses.)

A PN That could operate these subs would have the needed facilities built to maintain them, and could be a port the PLAN submarines would be able to visit and get some maintenance done in the western Indian Ocean.

Emerging from the Shadows

Although the new Liaoni

www.usni.org

5:53-8:30

 

[FuturePAF]

Said to be as good as Block 1 Virginia class boats or about 20 year old US technology. So better than anything the Indians are currently able to build if Pakistan could procure them, unless the Russians share their latest sub tech.

The requirement of the Type 095 will probably be to be as good as the latest US subs. It will be interesting to see if the type 095 is mass produced at a rate of at least 2-3 subs a year.

 

[FuturePAF]

Indian social media saying a Type 093 sank in the Taiwan straits or Yellow Sea but even the Taiwanese are refuting these claims. Did something happen though, such a grounding on an undersea mountain or a collision with another vessel?

Chinese submarine crash rumor unsubstantiated: MND - Taipei Times

Bringing Taiwan to the World and the World to Taiwan

www.taipeitimes.com

Chinese submarine crash in Taiwan Strait: Taiwanese Defense Ministry refutes social media claims

Taiwanese Defense Ministry denies social media rumors of Chinese submarine accident in the Taiwan Strait.

www.navyrecognition.com

 

[CallSignMaverick]

Indian social media saying a Type 093 sank in the Taiwan straits or Yellow Sea but even the Taiwanese are refuting these claims. Did something happen though, such a grounding on an undersea mountain or a collision with another vessel?

Chinese submarine crash rumor unsubstantiated: MND - Taipei Times

Bringing Taiwan to the World and the World to Taiwan

www.taipeitimes.com

Chinese submarine crash in Taiwan Strait: Taiwanese Defense Ministry refutes social media claims

Taiwanese Defense Ministry denies social media rumors of Chinese submarine accident in the Taiwan Strait.

www.navyrecognition.com

It's not Indian social media saying it

https://twitter.com/x/status/1693671649651065328

 

[beijingwalker]

More lies to entertain.. lol

Indian Social Media Goes Nuts Over Fake Claim of Su-35 Shootdown

With tensions high, nationalist audiences are primed for dangerous nonsense.

foreignpolicy.com

It's not Indian social media saying it

https://twitter.com/x/status/1693671649651065328

Lol, did you read the comments under the thing you posted? see how a mocking party is going on and people really have fun there.

路德社lude media

LOL, Lude Media, what the heck is this？

 

[Skull and Bones]

I hope this new sub won't face the same fate.

 

[beijingwalker]

I hope this new sub won't face the same fate.

From 路德社lude media , lol

 

[FuturePAF]

It's not Indian social media saying it

https://twitter.com/x/status/1693671649651065328

Read the comments.

 

[CallSignMaverick]

Why am I supposed to?

 

[GreatHanWarrior]

I hope this new sub won't face the same fate.

like this？

Why am I supposed to?

Because India is the fake news spreading center of the world. All Indians are good at creating fake news.

 

[maithil]

Wonder how many sailors are needed in this ? Probably more than 100..

 

[FuturePAF]

4 Type 093B built in the past 18 months! Averaging a new sub ever 4.5 months!
1st - May 2022
2nd - January 2023
3rd - June 2023
4th - October 2023

China is expected to launch 2-3 SSNs being built per year, between 2023-2030 or about 16-24 new Type 093 variants of SSNs.

By 2030, China may have 25-33 SSNs or about half the US navy’s SSNs fleet size.

After 2030, China will probably start building type 095 on a similarly massive scale; 2-3 subs a year. The current prototype Type 095 being built is suppose to match at least the Virginia class Block 3 subs (2013 US tech) and the Russian Severodvinsk/Kazan (Yasen/Yasen-M Class), so by 2030, when the type 095 goes into mass production, it maybe closer to the current operational Virginia blocks. So by 2030, Chinese subs will probably match the best of the Russian and British Navy’s SSNs, and close in on the US Navy’s best subs; Virginia block 4/5 (2019/2023 tech).

In 2033/2034, the next generation US SSN sub is suppose to be laid down, so the race is perpetually ongoing. But by that time the Chinese may be less then 10 year behind the cutting edge of the US navy and with the capacity to keep pace in numbers.

By 2040, the PLAN SSN fleet may match the USN in numbers and by 2049, may match all the SSNs of all its potential adversaries combined. If size of the AIP SSK fleet remains the same (and is just continuously modernized) and used to patrol the first island chain’s littorals, then the SSNs will be free to patrol the borders of the first island chain, into the second island chain and the wider ocean. With this many SSKs and SSNs, the PLAN doctrine may even change because its numbers could match the combined fleets of all its Potential adversaries combined.

Btw, there was another report that China wants to have an SSBN fleet of 16 subs, but I don’t have the current reference. 16 subs armed with 16-24 JL-3 or a total SLBM force of 256-384 missiles and probably a mix of 1-4 warheads (plus probably tons of decoys), allowing the PLAN alone to have up to 1000 warheads alone.

The type 094A may be set to match the Borei-A design. Even if China builds 1 SSBN every 2 years as many analysts estimate, China could comfortably reach a total fleet size of 16 by 2049. The type 094A may cap out at 10 subs and then a transition to the type 096 in the 2030s, along side type 095 production.

Chinese Navy has now six Type 094A Jin-class nuclear powered ballistic missile submarines

Chinese Navy has now six Type 094A Jin-class nuclear powered ballistic missile submarines

navyrecognition.com

Chinese Navy (PLAN) new Type 096 SSBN may start Strategic Patrol as early as next year

China’s navy new Type 096 nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) will likely begin its first sea patrol next year according to U.S. defense officials. These patrols will also include the new JL-2 submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs).

navyrecognition.com

The type 096 may a similar design to the following more stealthy design being studied by the Russians.

 

[Bilal9]

Sail less submarines are the new design trend in the Russian and Chinese (PLAN) navies. ^^

unless the Russians share their latest sub tech

Probably not happening brother.

Russians will keep their noise reduction tech close to their chests...

 

[FuturePAF]

Sail less submarines are the new design trend in the Russian and Chinese (PLAN) navies. ^^


Probably not happening brother.

Russians will keep their noise reduction tech close to their chests...

Probably true, unless IMHO, China trades something Russia badly needs, to help them win the Ukraine war. Otherwise, China may reach the same level of tech within a decade at the most, and then they will have missed their opportunity to get something for their expertise.