CHINA-PLA NAVY

The Beijing-based Sina Military recently described China's new Type 093G nuclear submarine as providing the PLA with a potential "aircraft carrier killer." Citing Taiwan's Defence Interntional magazine, it said the manufacturing of two Type 093G nuclear subs — upgraded versions of the Type 093 — were completed by the Bohai Shipbuilding Heavy Industry Co in December. Another is resting in a dry dock. The report said that the primary difference between Type 093G subs and Type 093 subs is that the former added a vertical launcher capable of firing cruise missiles and the YJ-18 anti-ship missile. The addition of the Type 093G sub, which has a missile attack range of 300km, means it can provide strong support in taking on enemy aircraft carriers along with long-range bombers and surface warships. The Type 093 sub can also use long-range missiles to attack targets on foreign soil, laying a solid foundation for the development of the next-gen Type 096 sub. According to the report, the YJ-18 serializes and universalizes the PLA Navy's missile systems through its compatibility with vertical launchers, laying a solid foundation for building surface warships with greater stealth capabilities. Sina Military added that the foreign media estimates that the PLA Navy curently has 3-4 strategic nuclear subs, 5-6 attack nuclear subs and 2-3 Han-class nuclear subs in service. It quoted PLA Major General Yang Yi as having suggested that China needs at least four more strategic nuclear subs and more than 10 attack nuclear subs.





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