This Post Is Recently Updated on Oct 27, 2023 @ 7:34 am by TBB Desk
Excerpts
• Pentagon report reveals China’s first nuclear-powered guided missile submarines.
• China becomes the third country with this capability, joining the US and Russia.
• New submarines identified as Type 093B, with potential land and sea attack options.
• Three of these SSGNs expected to be operational by next year.
• Development part of an escalating submarine arms race in the Indo-Pacific region.
Details
Pentagon Report Unveils China’s Maiden Nuclear-Powered Missile Submarine
The Pentagon’s recent report discloses China’s inaugural deployment of nuclear-powered guided missile submarines, marking China as the third nation to achieve this milestone following the US and Russia.
The documented disclosure, dated October 20, authenticates the observations of modified submarines in Chinese shipyards over the past 18 months, identifying them as Type 093B guided missile submarines. This disclosure follows Reuters’ revelation in May 2022, where satellite imagery from Huludao shipyard in northeast China unveiled a newly designed or upgraded submarine class, likely equipped with vertical tubes for cruise missile launch.
The report emphasizes the augmented capability this lends to the Chinese navy in conducting long-range precision assaults on terrestrial targets via land-attack cruise missiles from its submarines and surface combatants, significantly bolstering China’s power projection competence.
Historically, conventionally armed missile submarines, known as SSGNs, emerged during the Cold War, with the Soviet Union aiming to target US aircraft carriers. The US Navy reciprocated by adapting ballistic missile submarines to house numerous land-attack Tomahawk cruise missiles.
These cruise missiles, known for their long-range and precision, operate at low altitudes or graze the sea surface, contrasting with the flight pattern of ballistic weapons.
The report anticipates three of these new SSGNs to be operational by the upcoming year, amidst a broader expansion of China’s submarine fleet, which is projected to encompass 65 nuclear and diesel-powered vessels by 2025.
This development is set against a backdrop of a burgeoning submarine arms race, as China advances a new generation of nuclear-armed boats, amplifying the US Navy’s and other Indo-Pacific militaries’ focus on enhanced deployment and contingency strategizing to monitor China’s submarine activities at sea.
Singapore-based security scholar, Collin Koh, emphasizes the significant upgrade these SSGNs offer to the Chinese navy, enabling saturated land and anti-ship assaults from extended ranges, thereby altering the strategic dynamics for China’s adversaries.
Research from the U.S. Naval War College also hints at imminent advancements by the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) in reducing the noise levels of its nuclear-powered submarines, although it remains uncertain if these advancements have been integrated into the recently launched SSGNs.
Amid these developments, anonymous diplomats and analysts suggest cautious initial deployment by the PLA navy unless the improvements are confirmed, underscoring the priority accorded to the submarine force by Xi Jinping, as China gradually advances towards its strategic naval goals.
