Jin class

   The Type 094 (Western reporting name Jin class) is a Nuclear-Powered Ballistic Missile Submarine (SSBN). It is the second-generation SSBN of the Chinese navy. Development possibly began in the early 1980s. It is a successor to the unreliable sole Type 092 or Xia class boat, which was a catalogue of disasters and had little strategic value. The whole development project of the Type 094 class is kept in secrecy.

   Speculations have been made, that development of the Type 094 class was assisted by Russian Rubin Design Bureau, however this information was not confirmed. Construction of the lead vessel began in 1999 and it was launched in 2004. It seems that the first boat was commissioned in 2010. The second boat of the class was launched in 2007. Some sources claim that these Chinese ballistic missile submarines were plagued with various problems and design flaws. As of 2018 China operates 4 of these ballistic missile submarines. This fact was also confirmed by a US Department of Defense report. It is believed that at least one of these boats was completed to an improved project, which is sometimes referred as Type 094A. These boats are deployed on the Longpo naval base on Hainan island. These ballistic missile boats form China's sea-based nuclear deterrent capability.

   By 2018 Jin class boats were never sent on long-range deterrent patrol missions, possibly due to various problems and design flaws. Instead these boats are patrolling in South China Sea, relatively close to China's costal waters. The South China Sea is becoming a bastion for Chinese SSBN operations.

   In 2017 and 2018 new satellite images appeared that might indicate than China launched 2 more Jin class boats bringing the total number to 6. China does not use visible hull numbers on these boats. Also images from key naval bases are being censored. So it is not a simple task to assess the total number of the Type 094 class boats.

   Externally the Jin class appears to be a scaled-up version of the previous Xia class. It also incorporates some technologies of the Type 093 (Shang class) nuclear-powered attack submarine. Hull of the submarine was enlarged to accommodate missile tubes and part of the nuclear reactor.

   The Jin class carries a total of 12 JL-2 (Western reporting name CSS-N-5 or Sabbot) submarine-launched intercontinental ballistic missiles. The JL-2 missile has an estimated maximum range of around 7 400-8 000 km. It allows the boats to hold US territory within missile range, while operating from Chinese costal waters. Each JL-2 missile carries a single 250-1 000 kT nuclear warhead, or up to 3-4 smaller warheads with a yield of 90 kT each. These missiles were first deployed operationally in 2015.

   Other armament includes six 533 mm torpedo tubes. These can be used to engage hostile ships and submarines.

   Once on high alert these submarines can leave their bases and operate in China's coastal water, protected by the China's fleet. So the Jin class boats have high probability of surviving the first strike, once the country has been attacked.  However these submarines are not as advanced or stealthy as the Western ballistic missile submarines. Furthermore these are even inferior to the Russian submarines. China was always dragging behind in terms of submarine technology. It was reported that the Type 094 class boats are as noisy as the Russian Delta III class submarines, that were adopted back in the mid 1970s.

   Some sources report that the next generation Type 096 class boats are being built and should begin sea trials in the early 2020s. Considering the life span of the Type 094 class it is likely that these boats will operate alongside the newer Type 096 class boats.