{"id":233371,"date":"2021-05-04T07:02:10","date_gmt":"2021-05-04T07:02:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/?p=233371"},"modified":"2021-05-05T08:09:52","modified_gmt":"2021-05-05T08:09:52","slug":"chinas-new-nuclear-submarine-missiles-expand-range-in-us-analysts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/?p=233371","title":{"rendered":"China\u2019s new nuclear submarine missiles expand range in US: analysts"},"content":{"rendered":"

Minnie Chan \u2013 South China Morning Post May 2, 2021<\/strong><\/h1>\n

China\u2019s newly commissioned nuclear-powered submarine is armed with the country\u2019s most powerful submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) capable of hitting the US mainland, according to a military source and analysts.<\/h4>\n

The Type 094A, or Jin-class<\/span><\/a> nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN), was presented last Friday as part of the celebration to mark the 72nd anniversary of the PLA Navy<\/span><\/a>. It was capable of firing the JL-3, or Julang (Big Wave) SLBM with a range over 10,000km (6,200 miles), a source close to the navy said.<\/h4>\n

\u201cThe Type 094A is an upgraded version of the Type 094 that overcame one of the key problems \u2013 noise \u2013 by improving hydrokinetic and turbulent systems, allowing it to carry the more powerful JL-3,\u201d said the source, who requested anonymity because of the sensitivity of the subject.<\/h4>\n

\u201cBefore the upgrade, the submarine was armed with the inferior JL-2 that could only hit the northeast United States, but now it\u2019s able to cover the whole American continent.\u201d<\/h4>\n

According to Forbes<\/em>, before entering striking distance of the continental United States, the Type 094A subs would have to slip past a cordon of US military bases in the Pacific dubbed the first island chain \u2013 exposing the subs to detection and attack by American P-8 anti-sub patrol planes, surface warships and other undersea reconnaissance capabilities.<\/h4>\n

Chinese submarines have been dogged by the problem of being too noisy and easy to detect but that has largely been remedied in recent years by Chinese naval engineer Rear Admiral Ma Weiming, who is now taking the lead in a cutting-edge propulsion technology, according to state media.<\/h4>\n

The JL-3 is able to deliver the same multiple warheads, including nuclear warheads like the JL-2 does, the source added without giving more detail.<\/h4>\n

Each JL-2 missile can be armed with either a single megaton-yield warhead 67 times more powerful than the Little Boy bomb dropped on Hiroshima \u2013 or three to eight smaller multiple independently targetable re-entry vehicles (MIRVs) that can each strike different targets, according to a Forbes<\/em> report in May last year.<\/h4>\n

Macau-based military expert Antony Wong Tong said the news indicated that some technical breakthroughs had been achieved to make the JL-2 fit the silos of the Type 094A.<\/h4>\n

\u201cThe original design and size of the JL-3 should be adjusted, but those changes do not reduce its firepower and range \u2013 a significant breakthrough,\u201d Wong said.<\/h4>\n

Former PLA instructor Song Zhongping did not say what type of SLBM the Type 094A was armed with, but said it would boost China\u2019s second-strike capability \u2013 its ability to retaliate after a nuclear strike.<\/h4>\n

\u201cThe new SLBM with MIRVs with a firing range over 10,000km is the basic technical requirement for an upgraded Type 094 SSBN to cause nuclear deterrence,\u201d he said. \u201cChina promises not to use a nuke first but a powerful SSBN fleet will help the PLA strengthen their second-strike power against rivals.\u201d<\/h4>\n

China has six Type 094 and Type 094A SSBNs and plans to build a further two to replace the Type 092 SSBNs, according to the source.<\/h4>\n