The First Chinese Type 09V Nuclear-Powered Attack Submarine Unveiled at Bohai
In a recent development, the Bohai Shipbuilding yard has unveiled the first Chinese Type 09V (or 095) nuclear-powered attack submarine (SSN) at its facilities in Huludao. This significant milestone was captured by detailed satellite photos, which Naval News has obtained, showcasing the new design in a flooded drydock.
It's important to note that the high-resolution imagery has not been publicly released due to relevant source constraints. To provide a comprehensive understanding, this article includes a detailed graphic summarizing the key observations. Additionally, several aspects of the new design are based on preliminary estimates.
Initial lower-resolution imagery from February 9, accessible via Sentinel-2 L2A, hinted at the launch of another Type 09IIIB (https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2024/10/chinese-type-09iiib-nuclear-powered-submarine-surfaces-in-image/) (093B) SSGN. Since 2022, Bohai has launched an estimated seven or eight hulls of these guided missile nuclear-powered submarines for the Chinese Navy. The Type 09IIIB is based on the previous Type 09III lineage but incorporates significant revisions. However, detailed imagery reveals distinct characteristics indicative of a new clean-sheet design.
Wider Beam and X-Type Stern Controls
The new submarine measures approximately 110-115 meters in overall length, similar to previous Type 09III SSNs. However, a notable distinction lies in its wider design, with an estimated beam of 12-13 meters. These dimensions result in an estimated displacement of 9,000 to 10,000 tons submerged, significantly larger than the approximately 7,000 tons of the narrower Type 09III-family boats.
The Type 09V features a prominent X-tail rudder arrangement with large control surfaces, a configuration unprecedented in Chinese nuclear-powered submarines. This design is also reminiscent of the arrangement observed on a smaller new design at Wuchang Shipbuilding in Wuhan in 2024, known as the "Type 041" or "Zhou-class" (https://edition.cnn.com/2024/09/26/politics/chinese-nuclear-powered-submarine-sank) by American officials and Western media.
VLS and Pump Jet, Uncertain Hull Design
The Type 09V imagery reveals an unfinished open compartment behind the sail, which is likely a Vertical Launching System (VLS) for anti-ship and land-attack missiles, similar to the Type 09IIIB SSGN. The exact nature and configuration of this space remain uncertain. The Type 09IIIB carries 18 launchers in a three-abreast arrangement for AShM and LACM. An alternative explanation suggests that the open space is related to ongoing work on the reactor compartment.
The forward dive planes and control surfaces are not visible in the available imagery. Initial observations indicate that the new boat will utilize retractable hull-mounted dive planes, contrasting with the fairwater planes used by previous Chinese nuclear-powered and conventional boats, except for the Russian Kilo-class. The propulsion arrangement is also obscured, but it is almost certain that Type 09V employs a pump-jet instead of a skewback propeller, aligning with the Type 09IIIB's performance.
The high waterline, indicated by the red-painted lower hull, suggests reduced reserve buoyancy compared to earlier Chinese submarine designs. This characteristic may imply a single-hulled design for Type 09V, a departure from the double-hull arrangement used in previous PLAN submarines.
Single-hulled designs offer efficiency in maximizing internal space but demand more hydrodynamically efficient external shaping. The wider beam also suggests that the Type 09V could be the prospective next-generation Chinese ballistic missile submarine, the Type 09VI or 096, based on a derivative of the Type 09V baseline hull.
Chinese Submarine Modernization and Regional Responses
While several characteristics remain speculative, the appearance of this new-generation SSN underscores China's rapid progress in enhancing and expanding its fleet of nuclear-powered submarines. As noted in previous articles, Bohai has the capability to produce substantial numbers of new SSNs and SSBNs.
The introduction of the Type 09V and future Chinese submarine production will likely trigger a regional response, with countries like Australia, Japan, and South Korea considering the development of their own nuclear-powered submarine fleets. South Korea, in particular, is expected to pursue its own SSN fleet, possibly in collaboration with the United States. Other nations will likely invest in conventional submarine services and enhance sea- and airborne Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) capabilities.
Analysis by Alex Luck, with input from HI Sutton. Illustration by HI Sutton.
