I only count two modified variants, one with a small hump and one with a larger one. Where did you get the idea that there were three variants (small hump, larger hump, even larger hump)?
According to Henri K there are 5 yes 5 different type of Type 9III sub confirming one of the member guess who said that the PLA use type 9III to experiment and validate increasingly more sophisticated sub Henrik K also guess that new missile has been tested Her is the article
The SNA Type 09III tests a new naval cruise missile?
BY
00Since the endowment of the first Type 09III ¹ by the Chinese navy to 23 December 2006, which goes back more than ten years ago, few elements are made public on this new class of Chinese attack nuclear submarine. But the state media seems to have made an exception in recent days and broadcast several videos about a first trial campaign carried out among other things by one of these buildings, and the recent visit of Chinese President XI to a base Chinese Navy where are stationed several of these nuclear submarines.
We then learn that a series of shots, involving at least one Type 052D first-class destroyer and "the leading ship of a new class of submarine", was recently conducted by an experimental test center. the Chinese Navy in an area "between the Yellow Sea and Bohai Bay".
Although no details were provided, it is still known that several "new types of missiles" have been fired against targets at sea and also "on the island". So we are virtually certain that this concerns not only anti-ship missiles but also naval cruise missiles, except that we do not know which ones were deployed on which types of platforms.
Needless to say, there are questions about exactly where and when these shots were fired, as well as the buildings and missile models deployed in this experimental military campaign.
And if our follow-up is accurate, it is thought that these test shots took place exactly on May 12, between 07:00 and 16:00 local time, in an area in Bohai Bay already signaled by an alert from the Maritime Security Administration. local.
The analysis of this zone, which is nearly 24,000 km², twice the size of the Ile de France, shows that it includes not only the observation and monitoring stations of a known experimental test center. of the Chinese Navy, located on the west coast of the Liaodong Peninsula, but also at least one island that has been used as a long-range military field.
These elements are therefore consistent with the information disclosed in the official communiqués cited above.
Une grande partie de la baie de Bohai sera fermée le 12 Mai, entre 07h00 et 16h00 heure locale, pour cause de "mission militaire". La zone interdite d'accès fait environ 200 x 150 km.
The maritime zone prohibited from access on May 12, 2018 in the Bohai Sea (Image: East Pendulum)
Monitoring stations of the Chinese Navy Experimental Test Center (Image: East Pendulum)
One of the islands south-east of the Forbidden Area is served as a military firing range (Image: East Pendulum)