Recent analysis deduced that China is on track to complete the first Type 096 and make it operational before the end of the decade.[4]
Specifications and details
The Type 096 will be compared to the most modern Chinese submarines in terms of stealth, sensors and weapons. The capabilities of the Type 096 is speculated to be a significant jump to its predecessors, which would flip the balance in the Indo-Pacific.[4] In November 2023, satellite imagery on the Huludao shipyard showed pressure hull sections for a large submarine being worked up, which was then stated to likely be the Type 096 in early construction.[4] The vessel is also speculated to be significantly larger than the old Type 094 and follows a design similar to that of Russia's; allowing it to contain an internal raft mounted on complex rubber supports that helps dampen the noise of the submarine's engines.[4]
