China’s Type-096 submarine

According to Pentagon reports, China operates “near-continuous” submarine patrols in the South China Sea. Type-094 Jin-class boats are to be replaced by advanced Type-096s, equipped with new, longer-range Julang-3 ballistic missiles that can hit the continental U.S. from Chinese home waters


Bohai shipyard: Centre of China’s nuclear submarine production
CHINA 
NORTH KOREA
SOUTH KOREA 
200km 125 miles


Type-096: Image based on open-source intelligence

Julang-3 (JL-3): 24 submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs)

Single or multiple warheads 
Range: 8,000-10,000km-plus

Hull construction
Hull contains high-strength composite alloy steel with anechoic coating of silencer tiles

Length: 150m
Beam: 20m
Max diving depth: 600m 
Max speed: 35 knots (submerged)

Natural circulation reactor cooling

Alternative system allows coolant to flow in pressurized water reactor without use of mechanical pumps, reducing noise levels

Rim-Driven Propulsion
Propeller blades rotated by outer ring – remove driveshaft and gearbox – less vibration than shaft-driven screw


Bohai shipyard (images from Nov 2020, Mar 2022)

Dry dock with Type-094 Jin-class submarine

Dry dock

Rail tracks to move hull sections

Possible stern hull section of Type-096

Submarine construction hall


Sources: Global Security, H. I. Sutton, Middle East Media Research Institute, Reuters 
Pictures: Maxar Technologies via Google Earth 
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