09V/09VI (095/096) Nuclear Submarine Thread

charles18

Junior Member
Registered Member
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Regarding reactors, I'm actually NOT sure China is capable of mass producing those types of nuclear propulsion modules. We have very seldom seen nuclear propulsion vessels from China, even ones which would make sense such as the 003. Even the small French CdG uses nuclear propulsion, if the existing reactor is so good, why wouldn't China procure more of it? If not for CVs, at least for stuff like icebreakers or even larger surface ships.
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The fact that China has not done "X" yet is not proof they will not develop the capacity to do so in the near future.

China has more civilian / commercial nuclear reactors under construction, 22 last count, than any other country in the world. Furthermore the state council has approved construction of 10 new reactors in the year 2022 alone. The USA only has 2 reactors under construction. Western Europe only has 3 reactors under construction (1 in France, 2 in Britain). I won't mention how badly over budget and over the dead line these projects are. The numbers are clear, "The West" is turning away from nuclear power. The future lies in the East. Within the next 5 years I expect there to be 50 nuclear reactors under construction in China. This will be more than the rest of the world combined. China will totally dominate the industry.

There is a relationship between commercial nuclear Technology and military nuclear Technology. Having a robust commercial sector creates a large workforce of human capital and manufacturing capital that can be diverted to military needs. I'm not an engineer but If the Chinese nuclear industry can build 1,000 MW commercial reactors, I see no reason why they cannot build 100 MW naval reactors and stick it inside a submarine or aircraft carrier. I'll take it one step further. It was the Americans that invented nuclear marine propulsion. I believe the Chinese will ultimately surpass them.
 

gelgoog

Brigadier
Registered Member
The US has a bunch of startups working on small modular nuclear reactors. Some might pan out eventually. But yeah conventional reactors development is kinda dead right now. I think Russia is ahead of the US in several fields for example from conventional nuclear reactors to fuel enrichment and reprocessing. Chinese nuclear engineer expertise is getting close to the Russian level. But Chinese are world leader in actually building nuclear reactors. With Russia coming second in reactor construction.
 

Orthan

Senior Member
Does anyone knows if there has been any recent rumour/signal about the status of type 095 or 096 ? Does anyone knows if the projects are still a priority at this point?
 

ACuriousPLAFan

Colonel
Registered Member
Does anyone knows if there has been any recent rumour/signal about the status of type 095 or 096 ? Does anyone knows if the projects are still a priority at this point?
From what is known, China is likely to build at least one 095 within the 2021-2025 period. No construction of 096 has been planned so far.

I think we would see more 095s and 096s being built starting from 2026.
 

Orthan

Senior Member
China is likely to build at least one 095 within the 2021-2025 period.

I doubt that, since we are already in 2023, and seems that there is no new information regarding this project. My guess is that it is in development hell or worst, and that type 096 is in the same spot.
 

sunnymaxi

Captain
Registered Member
I doubt that, since we are already in 2023, and seems that there is no new information regarding this project. My guess is that it is in development hell or worst, and that type 096 is in the same spot.
you are the senior member of this forum. you should have check previous massages.

check page 102 of this thread.

see this ..

Hard to tell this early on, but 12m pressure hull is kind of what I would expect for 095. Remember, akula was at 11 to 12m. Seawolf was at 12m. Yasen is close to 13m.

@Patchwork_Chimera sir confirmed this news. @tphuang sir's source also confirmed

type 095 first unit construction has begun or soon will begin
 
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