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The Chinese Navy's Most Powerful Attack Submarine: The Type-093A - Naval News
Submarine expert H I Sutton takes a close look at China's Type 039A submarine and explains what makes it the most powerful attack submarine in the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN)'s arsenal.
www.navalnews.com
The Type-093A Shang-II Class submarine is equipped with a wide array of missiles and torpedoes.
The Chinese Navy’s Most Powerful Attack Submarine: The Type-093A
Submarine expert H I Sutton takes a close look at China's Type 093A submarine and explains what makes it the most powerful attack submarine in the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN)'s arsenal.
China’s foreign policy is becoming more assertive. With this the Chinese Navy (PLAN) is increasingly willing to show its might. Their growing naval presence in the South China Sea is being augmented with new overseas bases to increase their reach. These are in Djibouti on the Horn of Africa, in Cambodia, and maybe in the future in Pakistan. These match potential flash points where the PLAN may clash with other navies, such as the South China Sea, Pacific Ocean and Indian Ocean.
The visible signs of the naval expansion include new aircraft carriers, assault carriers, cruisers, and destroyers. And underpinning it all is something which goes unseen: increasingly potent submarines.
The most modern of China’s current submarine fleet are the Type-093A Shang-II Class (aka 09-IIIA). These ~7,000 ton nuclear-powered boats are roughly the same size as the Royal Navy’s Astute Class. In fact, in size terms it sits between the latest French Navy Suffren Class and the U.S. Navy’s Virginia Class.
Their relatively large size may provide more space for noise reducing features. Acoustic stealth is one of the most prized attributes of modern submarines. The quietness of the design is classified information, but we can assume that they are becoming increasingly stealthy.
(More at link)
