09III/09IV (093/094) Nuclear Submarine Thread
- Thread starter SinoSoldier
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SinoSoldier
Colonel
Recent photo of a Type 093B and 093 end-to-end:
The VLS isn't as pronounced as we've presumed it to be.
The VLS isn't as pronounced as we've presumed it to be.
That 093B appears to be much bigger than the 093. If true, then 093B represents significant change than most observers assume.
The general consensus some years ago was that 095 would be commissioned around 2015; instead we have 093B now. More recent indications point to 095 development program officially started in 2012 and may complete around 2018 - 2019. In connection to this, two years ago, the governor of Liaoning Province revealed that the fourth-generation nuclear submarine had completed its research and pre-development stage (in Liaoning). There were a lot of discussions then around what he meant by "fourth-generation" since it has been understood/assumed that 091, 093 are the first-generation, 093, 094 the second-generation, and therefore 095, 096 would be the third-generation. It is unlikely China has completed the research and pre-development of 097, 098, clearly.
If we put all the pieces of information together and assume that they're more or less true, then it would seem to me that 093B is considered a separate generation (third-generation) by China.
SinoSoldier
Colonel
The biggest question is whether the 093B is the same as the 095, or whether all three Type 093Bs are in fact 093Bs. Perhaps it's just me, but there seems to be subtle differences between the first Type 093B and subsequent units.
As for next-generation subs, my take on it is this:
1st-generation:
- 092
- 091
2nd-generation:
- 093
- 094
3rd-generation:
- 093B
4th-generation:
- 095
- 096
The fact that the mayor claimed that the development as "completed" suggests that construction may begin a year or two later, which corresponds nicely with recent predictions that the 096 submarine may begin construction this year.
Unlike surface combatants, information about submarines, particularly nuclear ones are difficult to come by. So there will be much speculations in any analysis.
That said, I think 093 class for SSN is much like 052 class for destroyer. It's possible there are several iterations since the first 093 came out more than a decade ago with incremental improvements. Nuclear submarine is one area where China is much behind the West and it would take a lot of time and investment to catch and narrow the gap. I don't think PLAN will commit to a new generation of SSN for serial productionuntil they feel comfortable with the technology. The most important subsystem that would be needed for the new-generation SSN - let's call it 095 - is the new generation of military nuclear reactor. There were some official reports that the new-generation submarine nuclear reactor development was officially started as an approved program in 2005 and, by all accounts completed before 2010. The 719 Institute of CSIC was a big contributor for the development; China National Nuclear Corp (CNNC) has been promoting a small pressured water reactor ACP100 for civilian applications, believed derived from the new military reactor, since 2011. The new-generation nuclear submarine development program, presumably 095 class, was reported starting officially in 2012.
I think 096 will start after 095, although I don't know if it's started this year.
Here is an ACP100 from CNNC.
This is a by People's Daily online back in 2011 on ACP100. Some quotes from the report:
据了解，我国的轻水小型堆ACP100是由中国核动力研究设计院在军工上的应用（比如核潜艇等）转化而来的，国家能源局已经拨出资金给其开展系统验 证。而根据中核集团的规划，于2010年6月设立为重点科技专项的ACP100将计划用2.5年左右的时间完成设计和关键试验研究。
“我国的军用核技术发展非常成熟，个人认为我国在小堆方面的技术与国际水平差距并不大。但要实现更好的商用前景，以及更高的安全性能，我们还需要进一步探索。”张益舟表示。
For those who don't understand Chinese, the first paragraph says ACP100 is derived from the military nuclear reactor (fro submarines). The second paragraph quotes Mr. Zhang Yizhou, an engineer from CNNC, to say that he thinks China's military nuclear reactor technology development has become very mature and the technology gap in small reactor (between China and international level) is rather small, but more needs to be done to explore better commercial applications (of these reactors) and improve safety level.
This is a by People's Daily online back in 2011 on ACP100. Some quotes from the report:
据了解，我国的轻水小型堆ACP100是由中国核动力研究设计院在军工上的应用（比如核潜艇等）转化而来的，国家能源局已经拨出资金给其开展系统验 证。而根据中核集团的规划，于2010年6月设立为重点科技专项的ACP100将计划用2.5年左右的时间完成设计和关键试验研究。
“我国的军用核技术发展非常成熟，个人认为我国在小堆方面的技术与国际水平差距并不大。但要实现更好的商用前景，以及更高的安全性能，我们还需要进一步探索。”张益舟表示。
For those who don't understand Chinese, the first paragraph says ACP100 is derived from the military nuclear reactor (fro submarines). The second paragraph quotes Mr. Zhang Yizhou, an engineer from CNNC, to say that he thinks China's military nuclear reactor technology development has become very mature and the technology gap in small reactor (between China and international level) is rather small, but more needs to be done to explore better commercial applications (of these reactors) and improve safety level.
Hyperwarp
Captain
Looks like someone heard my whining
. 093B appears bigger/fatter than the basic 093. The illustration below posted some time back is quite consistent. 
GreenestGDP
Junior Member
ACP 100 event was on June 2010 or 66 months ago.
Just think --- what kind Technological breakthroughs, Noise reductions, Weight reductions, Vibration reductions, and miniaturization developments have occurred since 5.5 years ago ??
Will these Nuclear Propulsion manufacturing tech knowledge be applicable to 093xx sub, 095xx sub, and 096xx sub ??
===
Who did really track the Ronald Reagan carrier + the USN escort GROUP for at least 12 hours in the Sea of Japan ??
Can a Diesel Kilo sub keep up with the Ronald Reagan nuclear propulsion speed for at least 12 hours ?
Within those (at least) 12 hours, --- why was Ronald Reagan NOT sailing at maximum speed to test if the PLAN sub can keep up ?
CNN answer: ... ...
Because suddenly mellow Adm. Scott Swift had asked the Ronald Reagan captain to be nice to PLAN sub crew and trying to invite them for a feast of Bangkok Fried Rice on board of Ronnie.
