China is continually modernizing and acquiring new submarines. China will have 76 submarines by 2030. By contrast, Taiwan only has four. Two of these are ex-U.S. Navy Fleet submarines dating back to World War II and are the oldest operating submarines currently in existence.
China's first sea-based credible nuclear deterrent appears in its final stages. The jin-class, or type 094, submarine and its intended armament are the JL-2 submarine -launched missile (SLBM), appear to be in place. As the vessel began carrying out nuclear deterrence patrols earlier in the year, Chinese state media reported that it was showing "growing might".
While the jinclass has already been in development for decades it is now entering full service with PLAN. It is likely that up to five hulls will be produced by the end of 2010, according to U.S. Naval Intelligence, but this figure may be low.
At least six jin class SSBNs are currently in service with the PLA navy, possibly eighteen or nine more. These SSBNs have a range of over 2,000 miles and are capable of carrying nuclear JL-2 or JL-3 submarine-launched ballistic missiles, which are the preferred SLBM weapon for the Chinese navy.
The jin Class is an integral part China's ongoing nuclear Modernization. They will play an increasingly vital role in China’s longterm plans for a larger SLBM Force, as well as a possible shift to a 3rd Generation SSBN.
China's fleet also includes a variety of sub-marines other than the jin-class. In recent times, Vietnam, Indonesia, Philippines and the Philippines have all purchased several of these boats.
These vessels can be equipped with weapons like anti-ship cruise missiles (ASM), torpedoes, mines, and nuclear tipped torpedoes. The jin class is a particularly interesting ship as it can carry both short and long-range nukes.
It has a hull designed to take these weapons. The jin-class is highly sophisticated and quiet making it an ideal platform for conducting nuclear strikes against targets far away from shore. Actually, the jinclass is more quiet than Russia's Typhoon SSBN.
Despite its relative quiet, the jin class is still a powerful weapon and one of the most advanced SSBNs in the world. It can reach the United States with less than three hours. Additionally, its range is more than 2,000 mile, so it can potentially strike most of the United States.
The jin-class, however, is a slow boat that will have difficulty avoiding American submarine attacks. Consequently, China's military is likely to continue to modernize its submarine fleet in order to maintain its ability to project power and defend against American attack.
The jin class can carry missiles as large as the largest US Navy ships. Its conning tower has been enlarged, and it has a retractable towed array sonar that will make it easier for it to detect American attack submarines.
The jin-class is a substantial upgrade on its predecessors the xia class, but it still lags behind Russia’s newest, more advanced missile submarine the typhoon. Despite the jin-class's increased capacity, it is unlikely to be as reliable or as capable as the typhoon-class, and may never be able to deliver nuclear weapons effectively. China's submarine fleet, which is an important pillar of their military power, will remain so for the near future.