This feels odd to me. 14FYP is obviously over and if 095 was already produced (even if only 1) then that suggests it is ready. I don't see why if 095 is ready another full batch of 8 093B would be ordered. Maybe a few more as 095 module production spins up but 8 seems a bit excessive if 095 is already in production.
09III/09IV (093/094) Nuclear Submarine Thread
- Thread starter SinoSoldier
- Start date
Any idea how many subs were commissioned this year? I saw somewhere listed 2x 093B and 3x SSKs (presumably 039Cs?) but i have no idea how accurate that is.
It wouldn't be the first time for PLAN. See more 054A+ getting ordered while 054Bs were coming out.
That's cause 054Bs are another case of 052C or original 054s while 09V is suppose to be the next big thing.
Yeah, supposed to be and being are two separate things.
In any case, I'm just saying that -assuming the rumors are true of course, I have zero insight to give- this would not be the first time that PLAN does something like this.
The "next big thing" doesn't necessarily clash with continuing the 093B-class with a 2nd batch, especially when the first or first two 095 SSN(s) can be considered as pilot unit(s) for the class, and that the PLAN desperately needs more hulls in the water in case of any potential contingencies.
Besides, can't blame the PLAN if they've decided to be conservative and/or cautious with what could be the chance for them to firmly close the distance, if not finally catch up with the USN in the underwater domain, particularly with the SSN(X) pretty much stuck until the early-2040s and the latter having to order further blocks of Virginia SSNs.
Moreover, the Guancha Gang also mentioned something about the improved variant of the 095 SSN, i.e. 095A which is currently in development. So there's that.
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they also mentioned, two units of Type 095 currently under construction. we have seen 12 inch hull diameter in satellite imagery. so maybe first Boat has already been launch.
Think of PLAAF still buying J-16s and J-10Cs (093B) when J-20 (095) is available. Continuing 093B production gets hulls in the water quicker and still provides a useful capability, and a massive upgrade over what prevailed before (093/A, or J-7/8 to continue the PLAAF analogy).
J-16s and J-10Cs serve a different purpose than J-20 so it's hardly a comparison. J-16s are initially envisioned as a strike fighter to replace JH-7As that evolved into a missile truck that it is today while J-10C is considered a lower end modern multirole fighter to fill up numbers and replace the large amount of 2nd and 3rd generation aircraft. J-20's direct predecessor are the J-11s which stopped production as soon as J-20 was nearing service, ironically both aircraft you mentioned, the J-16 and J-10C both had their maiden flight a few years after J-20.
095 is said and expected to be the direct replacement of the 093 series, not a complement to it.
Do you think it's more likely that Huludao did 2 expansion phases between 2016 through 2023 before discovering they're bottlenecked at 2 subs leaving 12-18 out of 20 bays empty for almost a decade, or do you think it's more likely the classification level of SSNs is at such a level that they actively don't want you to know / made an effort to hide how many were launched, and trying to guess through OSINT or commercial sats is an exercise in futility?