| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name | Type 096 |
| Operators |  People's Liberation Army Navy |
| Preceded by | Type 094 submarine |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | SSBN |
| Displacement | 20,000tons(submerged)[1][2] |
| Propulsion | Nuclear reactor |
| Armament | JL-3SLBMs (?) |
TheType 096 (NATO reporting name:Tang class) is a projected class ofnuclear-poweredballistic missile submarine (SSBN) for China'sPeople's Liberation Army Navy Submarine Force. The submarine is expected to begin construction in the early 2020s and be armed with theJL-3SLBM.[3][4]
Recent analysis deduced that China is on track to complete the first Type 096 and make it operational before the end of the decade.[5]
The Type 096 will be the most modern Chinese submarines in terms of stealth, sensors and weapons. The capabilities of the Type 096 are speculated to be a significant jump to its predecessors, which would flip the balance in theIndo-Pacific.[5] In November 2023, satellite imagery on the Huludao shipyard showed pressure hull sections for a large submarine being worked up, which was then stated to likely be the Type 096 in early construction.[5] The vessel is also speculated to be significantly larger than the oldType 094 and follows a design similar to that of Russia's; allowing it to contain an internal raft mounted on complex rubber supports that helps dampen the noise of the submarine's engines.[5]
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