Recently, Taiwan's ** "China Times News Network" reported that Chinese mainland's military strength is growing rapidly, including a striking development: the Type 096 nuclear submarine is expected to be launched in 2025. The launch of the submarine, which is said to be capable of carrying the Julang-3 missile, will mark a certain "balance" between China and the United States in terms of nuclear power. However, these reports do not have exact information**, so we should be cautious about these rumors.
In May of this year, it was reported that a Type 094 ballistic missile nuclear submarine appeared in the western Pacific Ocean, and surfaced in the Philippine Sea, about 800 kilometers west of **. The U.S. side speculates that China currently has six such submarines. While these reports excite military enthusiasts, they also reveal the potential shortcomings of China's strategic nuclear submarines. The Type 094 submarine carries the Julang-2 missile, which has a range of only 8,000 kilometers and needs to approach the Philippine Sea to threaten the continental United States.
By comparison, the Type 096 submarine carries a Julang-3 missile with a range of up to 12,000 kilometers, which means that a launch from the South or East China Sea can directly threaten the U.S. mainland. In addition, the Type 096 submarine may also use pump-push technology to greatly improve the level of silence, and the noise may be reduced to about 105 decibels, which is close to the level of marine noise. It is rumored that the vertical launch units of the Type 096 submarine have been increased from 12 to 16 of the Type 094.
Recently, China has successfully achieved the feat of launching a satellite with 41 satellites, demonstrating the maturity of multiple warhead technology. If the Julang-3 missile can carry 6 to 8 warheads, then a Type 096 submarine can carry more than 100 nuclear warheads. This nuclear deterrent capability cannot be ignored by any potential adversary.
Although Taiwan has speculated that the Type 096 submarine may be launched in 2025, the U.S. and Taiwanese military and the entry into service of China's major systems have not always been accurate in the past. Therefore, the exact timing of the launch of the Type 096 submarine is still unknown. What is certain, however, is that this high-profile strategic asset is gradually becoming a reality.