Published time: April 06, 2015 08:23
Chinese shipbuilders have completed three advanced
nuclear-propelled submarines that can fire the latest vertically
launched anti-ship missiles, local media reported.
Satellite pictures
broadcast last week by China Central Television showed three
submarines anchored at an unidentified port, China Daily
reported. The vessels were reported to be Type-093G submarines
just completed by a shipyard and ready to be delivered to the
Navy of the People’s Liberation Army.
Type-093G is an advanced version of Type-093, China’s
second-generation nuclear-powered attack submarines. Compared to
the relatively short 110-m regular variant, the Type-093G has a
longer hull to make room for a vertical launch system, the report
said.
The launchers are designed to fire YJ-18, the vertically launched
version of China’s YJ-12 supersonic anti-ship missile, according
to the Navy’s website. The advanced missile can reportedly carry
a 300-kilogram warhead to a range over 200 kilometers and is
capable of performing maneuvers at speeds of up to Mach 3 just
before hitting its target.
The Type-093G submarine also has improved speed and mobility, and
reduced noise compared to the regular version, the website said.
PLA’s Navy is believed to have up to six Type-093 submarines
currently in service in addition to three older Type-091s. A new
Type-095 submarine is currently in development. China also
reportedly has four Type-094 ballistic missile submarines
carrying JL-1 or JL-2 nuclear missiles.
Earlier in February, US Vice Admiral Joseph Mulloy said China had
surpassed the US in the total number of submarines.
“They may not be the same quality, but their submarine forces
are growing at a tremendous rate. They now have more diesel and
nuclear attack submarines than we have,” the admiral told a
House subcommittee.
“They are producing some fairly amazing submarines and they
are actually deploying them,” he added, explaining the
Chinese vessels are being sent on longer missions to regions
located further from China.
The assessment sparked fears in the US that China would be able
to strike American territory from its submarines deployed in the
Pacific. However, the fears may be exaggerated, since JL-2, which
according to some estimates has enough range to reach Alaska,
Hawaii or the US military bases in Guam, is believed to have been
in service since at least 2012.
Chinese naval development was addressed in the US-China Economic
and Security Review Commission’s annual report to Congress in
December last year, Military.com reported. Among other issues the
commission commented on Chinese-Russian military development
cooperation and a joint deal to build new attack submarines.
“China is pursuing joint-design and production of four to six
Russian advanced diesel-electric attack submarines containing
Russia’s latest submarine sonar, propulsion, and quieting
technology,” the commission said.
“The deal would improve the PLA Navy’s capabilities and
assist China’s development of quiet submarines, thus complicating
future US efforts to track and counter the PLA submarines,”
it added.
http://rt.com/news/247029-china-nuclear-attack-submarines/
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