Type 092 submarine
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Profile of the type 092
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| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Xia-class |
| Builders: | Bohai Shipyard, Huludao |
| Operators: |  People's Liberation Army Navy |
| Succeeded by: | Type 094 (Jin-class) |
| Built: | 1981 |
| In commission: | 1987 |
| Completed: | 1 |
| Active: | 1 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type: | SSBN |
| Displacement: | 8,000 tonnes (submerged) |
| Length: | 120 m (393 ft 8 in) |
| Beam: | 10 m (32 ft 10 in) |
| Draught: | 8 m (26 ft 3 in) |
| Propulsion: | 1 × pressurized-water nuclear reactor, 58MW; 2 × steam turbines; 1 shaft. |
| Speed: | 22 kn |
| Range: | Unlimited |
| Test depth: | 300 m (984 ft 3 in) |
| Crew: | 100 |
| Armament: | |
The Type 092 (Chinese designation: 09-II; NATO reporting name: Xia-class) submarine was the first nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) deployed by the People's Liberation Army Navy Submarine Force, and the first SSBN designed and built in Asia.
Background
The first and only confirmed submarine of its class, boat 406, was laid down in 1978 at Huludao, 120 miles north-east of Beijing; she was completed in 1981. She then spent 6 years being fitted out and conducting tests with its 12 JL-1 missiles, becoming active in 1987. Later, the submarine went through numerous upgrades in incremental step, including using Type H/SQ2-262B sonar manufactured by No. 613 Factory replacing the original Type 604 sonar on board.
She was designed by Peng Shilu (
The 092 has undergone numerous refits, currently featuring a new black paint, possible quieting technologies, French-designed sonar, and the improved longer ranged JL-1A SLBM. Homeported in Jianggezhuang near Qingdao, it is reported that the 092 has never conducted strategic patrols outside Chinese regional waters.[2]
The 092 is aging however and a new nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine, the Type 094, has been developed and deployed by the People's Liberation Army Navy. The U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency lists the 092 as being "not operational."[3] While its capability is still being questioned, Xia made its world wide debut on April 23, 2009 celebrating the 60th anniversary of THE PLA Navy's founding.[4]
See also
- Type 094 submarine - a new Chinese SSBN
References
- ↑ Andrew S. Erickson and Lyle J. Goldstein: China's future nuclear submarine force - Insights from Chinese Writings, Naval War College Review, Winter 2007, Vol. 60, No. 1, p55-79.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Type 092 Xia Class SSBN
- ↑ China's navy - Distant horizons, economist.com
