Re: PLAN submarines Thread II
Regarding type 095, what do they mean with "next decade"? the 2020´s ? within the next 10 years? either way, it seems like it wont be in the near term.
For some time now analysts in the west have believed that the Type 093 did not achieve the quieting that the PLAN desired and thus stopped with two vessels. It is now believed that they improved the design somewhat and have been building four more before moving on to a generational, new model, the Type 095. If that is true, then by the time they complete and get these next four in service, then complete the design of the Type 095 based on what they learn, and then start building it, it could well be ten years.
In the mean time, they will have a total of six Type 093s.
They say its a SSGN submarine. What is the difference betwen a SSGN and a SSN? At least they dont say that it will be noisier than soviet era subs.
Typically a SSGN is a sub designed with its primary offensive weapon being guided missiles. This is true of the SSGN conversion of the four Ohio Class boats, and of the Oscar and Oscar II class boats from the Russians.
Of late, starting with the Russians and their new boats, and now extending to the Flight V Virginia Class boats, subs are being designed and built to perform the SSN (Attack Sub) role and the SSGN (Guided missile sub) role. This is blurring the lines between the two...but also producing larger subs that can accomodate both functions.
The new Yasen Class boats for the Russians are BIG submarines...but also very sleek and manueverable (unlike the Oscars). The Flight V Virginias will displace significantlly more when they add the Virginia Payload Module (VPM) which will add four large vertical launch tubes, carrying up to seven Tomahawk missiles each, or an additional 28 missiles added to the twelve they already carry forward...40 Missiles each in addition to their full anti-submarine loadout. The VPM will increase the length of the Flight V Virginia Class by 94 ft.
