A concept art rendering of China's Tang-class submarine. (Internet photo)
China's new Type 096 Tang-class ballistic missile submarine, thought to be in development, may become a serious threat to the United States in the Western Pacific as it is estimated to be able to carry 24 missiles, according to the Russian Military Analyst based in Moscow.
The article China's Nuclear Potential published on Dec. 30 said that it will still take decades for China to establish sufficient second-strike capability. However, China has taken much less time to develop its nuclear arsenal than most Western observers had previously expected, though the People's Liberation Army Air Force still relies on H-6K bombers and Q-5 attackers for nuclear strike capability.
While Q-5 attackers have been slowly replaced by the more advanced JH-7A, China is unlikely to develop a new stealth bomber to take the H-6K's place in the near future, the article said. However, the H-6K's range had been extended from 1,800 kilometers to 3,000 km and it can now carry six CJ-10A strategic cruise missiles, which would allow the PLA Air Force to hit critical US targets in the Central Pacific.
The article also estimated that the number of China's nuclear warheads is under 2,000. However, only between 250 and 300 nuclear warheads can be transferred on road-mobile systems. At the same time, it also said that China's has less than 459 tactical nuclear warheads. China's nuclear forces are currently under close surveillance by US forces in Central Asia. Even though they do not pose a threat to the US mainland, they may still be a threat to Russia's national security.
The article further said that submarines are strategically important for the PLA. The JL-2 submarine-launched ballistic missiles carried by Type 094 Jin-class ballistic missile submarines cannot reach the continental United States unless fired from the Central Pacific while Jin-class submarines would be detected and countered out by US forces if they attempted to move into the waters around Hawaii.
Until China improves the ability of its subs to withstand US anti-submarine weaponry, the PLA is unlikely to succeed in a conflict against the US. The new Type 096 Tang-class submarines may prove very useful against US forces in the future, however. The number of its ballistic missiles has increased to 24 from the Type 094's 12. With an attack range of at least 11,000 km, it could conceivably attack the United States under the escort of China's surface combat fleet.
