Summary: China's People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) has surged to become the world's largest naval force, with significant investments in both nuclear-powered and diesel-electric submarines. The backbone of its strategic deterrence at sea is the Type 094 nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine, with at least six built, including two advanced Type 094A variants. These submarines, approximately 137 meters in length, can launch JL-2 submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) capable of carrying nuclear warheads up to 7,200 kilometers away. The Type 094A improves upon this with potential for 16 launch tubes and the enhanced JL-2A missile, possibly reaching the entire U.S. from China's shores.

Underwater Titans: Inside China’s Type 094 Nuclear Submarine Force

China's People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) has become the world's largest naval force, and Beijing  wants to continue expanding its blue-water capabilities. It currently has both a nuclear-powered submarine fleet, and a robust fleet of diesel-electric submarines.

The diesel-electric subs are the bulk of China’s undersea forces, but the PLAN is growing its force of nuclear-powered subs, including the Type 094. At least six of these vessels have been built, including two of the improved Type 094A variant.

Beijing has never publicly disclosed the exact number of ballistic missile submarines it has built, and there are no visible hull numbers on the vessels. But China State Shipbuilding Corp, a state-owned builder of ships and submarines in Wuhan, has reportedly worked overtime to ensure delivery of the latest submarines, while defense contractor Wuchang Shipbuilding Industry Company built a new complex on 3.3 square kilometers more than a decade ago to increase the PLAN's shipbuilding capacity.

Such submarines only have one mission: to deter the enemy from using nuclear weapons or launch an atomic strike. That most likely would mean a nuclear war with the United States. 

The Type 094/Type 094A – What We Know

Type 094 submarines are approximately 137 meters in length. They are equipped with 12 missile tubes, each capable of firing the JL-2 submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM), which can carry up to three nuclear warheads to a target up to 7,200 kilometers away. The JL-2 replaced the JL-1 SLBM that had been deployed on the Type 092 submarine.

The new Type 094A has improved sails, and it could be equipped with a total of 16 launch tubes. It may also carry the new JL-2A ballistic missile, which has far greater range than the JL-2 – it might even be able to reach the entire United States from the Yulin Naval Base on Hainan Island.

As a second-generation nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine, the Type 094 was developed to bolster the PLAN's underwater combat strength. The boats feature several significant technological upgrades and enhancements, including improved radar, sonar, and torpedoes. The PLAN submarines are believed to be capable of traveling more than 20 knots when submerged.

Yet, as previously reported by Maya Carlin, despite being an upgrade from the unreliable Xia class, the Type 094s are criticized for high noise levels that increase their detectability, potentially undermining their use for strategic deterrence. Armed with JL-2 and possibly JL-3 missiles, their range threatens U.S. territories like Hawaii, Guam, and Alaska. 

The further improved Type 096 remains in the works. For now, Beijing routinely deploys its force of Type 094 missile boats on fully armed nuclear deterrence patrols in the South China Sea. The Type 094/094A is still the only PLAN vessel dedicated to launching nuclear weapons, and thus, according to the U.S. Department of Defense, the platform represents Beijing's " first credible sea-based nuclear deterrent."

Author Experience and Expertise: Peter Suciu

Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer. He has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers, and websites with over 3,200 published pieces over a twenty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: [email protected].