China raises nuclear submarine stealth game with redesign and tactics to ‘hide ID numbers’

The PLA Navy has reconfigured its new generation Type 094 submarines, capable of firing ballistic missiles that can reach the US mainland

The redesign will make the subs stealthier, quieter, and able to hide ID numbers to confuse observers, a report and analysts say

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A nuclear-powered Type 094A Jin-class ballistic missile submarine of the PLA Navy takes part in a military display in the South China Sea. Photo: Handout via Reuters

Published: 10:00pm, 9 Oct 2021Updated: 8:46am, 10 Oct 2021

China has not only revised and upgraded its strategic nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines (SSBN) to increase their stealth power and reduce noise, but is also using deceptive tactics to hide their identification numbers, according to both a recently released report and military analysts.

The report, co-authored by French submarine encyclopaedia author Eric Genevelle, and Richard W. Stirn, a former sonar technician submariner with the US Navy, said China had reconfigured its new generation type 094 submarines, and also introduced deceptive tactics to hide identification markers, thus making it difficult to assess how many of the powerful boats it had built.

The Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has developed two kinds of SSBN, the Type 092 and Type 094, with an upgraded version of the latter reportedly able to fire the JL-3 or Julang (Big Wave) submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) that has a range of over 10,000km (6,200 miles) – capable of hitting the US mainland.

The Type 094A and Type 094B, upgraded versions of the Type 094, have improved hull designs, according to the report.

It said that apart from modifying the towed sonar array dispenser to try to reduce noise, both the A and B variants of the Type 094 had changed the shape of their sails by taking out windows and had reduced limber holes on the bow.