CNS Type 094 (Jin)

History of CNS Type 094 (Gold)

As of 2010, the Type 094 ballistic missile submarine replaced the Type 092 Xia-class submarine in service with the People's Liberation Army (PLAN) Navy. It is believed that there are currently (2015) about four ships in this class (a fifth is under construction), greatly expanding the projection of Chinese naval power in contested waters of the Western Pacific - particularly against Japan, South Korea and others Projections of neighbors. As a ballistic missile submarine, the Type 094 differs from conventional attack submarines in that it carries a Vertical Launch System (VLS), which supports underwater-launched missiles, including those with nuclear payloads.

The first ship was launched in mid-2004.

The Type 094 follows the lead of the world's major powers' ballistic missile submarines, using a nuclear reactor propulsion system rather than a traditional (and conventional) diesel-electric engine arrangement. The reactor powers the shaft and supports underwater speeds in excess of 20 knots. Nuclear propulsion also offers essentially unlimited operating range, and reactors typically last about 20 to 25 years before needing to be replaced.

However, the ship is limited by the supplies of the 120 crew on board - supplies that last about three months at sea.

The vessel has a barrel length of 436.3 feet and a beam length of 41 feet. Weight includes surface displacement of 8,000 tons and subsea displacement in the range of 11,000 tons. Its general profile is that of a traditional tubular hull with a tapered finned stern section. The sail is amidships and there is a raised platform at the stern for mounting the VLS unit.

The dive plane is located at the front of the sail. The VLS includes 12 launch tubes that can support conventional or nuclear ordnance as needed - including the JL-1 and JL-2 series of missiles.

In addition to the basic range of ballistic missiles, the Type 094 retains the traditional configuration of torpedo launchers in the bow. This includes two sets of three 533 mm (21 in) caliber launchers located on either side of the hull.

This allows the Type 094 to not only attack land-based targets from offshore positions, but also hunt and engage enemy submarines and spawn ships - a true triple threat, once possessed only by the West and the Soviet Union.

The arrival of the Type 094 (and its supposed capabilities) has caught the attention of major players in Southeast Asia and Washington DC.

Specification

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