Known as the Yuan-class in the NATO reporting system, the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) has been busy building attack submarines in recent years. These large, conventional submarines look very similar to the Russian Kilo-class. They are designed to operate in deep water areas in near-seas. They are also very effective anti-ship cruise weapon platforms.
Three types of Yuan-class submarines are available. Each submarine has a different sail design. They are called Type 039A, Type 039C, and Type 041. The first was produced at Wuhan Shipyard. This version was shown at the China Naval Modernization report presented to the United States Congress in 2005. Rumours abound that the second Yuan may be in construction. These vessels will join the fleet of PLAN by 2028.
According to Chinese-language Internet data, the new Yuan's overall length is 77.2 meters. It is believed that it has a greater beam than the Song-class. The new boats also have an optronic mast as well as periscopes. These are likely to make the new vessels more effective than earlier rubber tiles.
Around 2010, the Type-035 Ming Class Submarines' aft casing was modified to include a chined top sail. The Chinese Navy also has a towed antenna sonar on their vessels. According to some reports, the Yuan-class will soon be loaded with long-range antisubmarine weapons that are more powerful.
The Yuanclass was recently evaluated by the US Naval Institute as an antiship cruise missile platform. They also evaluated the submarines' capabilities to operate in deep seas and near-seas. They found that the submarine's AIP was capable of keeping it submerged for at least two weeks. They also found that the submarine could carry small missiles out. The C-802 cruise missile has a range up to 180 kilometers.
In his essay, Holst incorrectly concluded that the Yuan-class submarines carried the C-802 ASCM. Holst claims the submarines were built using this weapon. However the US intelligence requires that all missile-carrying submarines have dedicated launchers. The Yuanclass is thought to have two or more Air-Independent Propulsion (AIP), meaning that the submarine does NOT need to have its own oxygen supply. AIP systems can be used to help modern SSKs remain underwater for as long as four weeks.
Chinese Navy is also known for its long history of building sub-satellite submarines. China has already constructed 13 Type 039 submarines. There are at least four more to come by 2023. China's Type 039A first submarine was built in 2005. It was built at Wuhan Shipyard. The submarine completed sea trials during 2006. The information on the other variants is still not available.
China's Yuan Class submarines from China had been exported as far back as July 2010, to Thailand, Pakistan, and Myanmar. China announced plans to acquire eight more submarines to be used in its navy. China's Navy is expected have at most 25 Yuan-class submarines in service by 2025.