The Type 094 (NATO codename: Jin class) is the second-generation nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) of the PLA Navy. Development of the submarine possibly began in the early 1980s as a successor to the unreliable first-generation Type 092 (Xia class). Construction of the first hull reportedly began at Huludao-based Bohai Shipyard in 1999 and the submarine was launched in July 2004. Little was known about the highly secretive project until recently, when several photos of the submarine was published on the Chinese Internet anonymously.
The Type 094 appears to be an enlarged version of the first-generation Type 092 Xia class, incorporating some Type 093 SSN technologies. The dive displacement was estimated to be 8,000~9,000 tonnes. There has been speculations that development of the Type 094 may have been assisted by Russian Rubin Design Bureau, but this cannot be confirmed.
Each Type 094 SSBN carries twelve JL-2 (NATO codename: CSS-NX-4) submarine launched ballistic missile (SLBM), each with 1~3 nuclear warheads. With its maximum range of 8,000km, the missile will allow Chinese SSBNs to target portions of the United States for the first time from operating areas located near the Chinese coast. Equipped with the JL-2 missiles, the Type 094 SSBN would only have to patrol just to the northeast of the Kuril Islands to hold about three-fourths of the United States within its missile's range. Other armaments of the submarine may include six 533mm torpedo tubes.
So far at least two (some reports suggested three) hulls of the class have been identified. No testing of the JL-2 SLBM from the Type 094 SSBN has been reported yet.
