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| PLAN Type 96 Class SSBN ( Image credits- Wikimedia Commons / Author- In the Picture) |
Source- Want China Times
China's new Type 096 Tang-class ballistic missile submarine, thought to be in development, may become a serious threat to the United States in the Western Pacific, as it is estimated to be able to carry 24 missiles according to Russian Military Analyst based in Moscow.
An article titled China's Nuclear Potential published on Dec. 30 said that it will still takes decades for China to establish sufficient second strike capability. However, China takes much less time to develop its nuclear forces than most Western observers had previously thought. Currently, the People's Liberation Army Air Force still relies on H-6K bombers and Q-5 attackers to conduct nuclear strikes.
While Q-5 attackers have been slowly replaced by the more advanced JH-7A, China is unlikely to develop a new stealth bomber to take H-6K's place in the near future, the article said. However, the H-6K's range had been extended from 1,800 kilometers to 3,000 km and it is equipped with six CJ-10A strategic cruise missiles, which would allow the PLA Air Force to hit critical US targets in the Central Pacific in the event of a conflict breaking out.
The article said that submarines are important for the PLA strategically. The JL-2 submarine-launched ballistic missiles with which China's Type 094 Jin-class ballistic missile submarines are equipped cannot reach the continental United States unless fired from the Central Pacific and Jin-class submarines would be detected and bombarded by US forces if they attempted to move into the waters of Hawaii.
Until China improves its submarine's ability to withstand US anti-submarine systems, the PLA is unlikely to succeed in any conflict with the US. China's new Type 096 Tang-class submarines may prove very useful against US forces in the future. The number of its ballistic missiles has increased to 24 from the Type 094's 12. With an attack range of at least 11,000 km, it can attack the United States under the escort of China's surface combat fleet.
The article also estimated that the number of China's nuclear warheads is under 2,000. However, only between 250 and 300 nuclear warheads can be transferred on road-mobile systems. At the same time, it also said that China's has less than 459 tactical nuclear warheads. China's nuclear forces are currently under close surveillance by US forces in Central Asia. Even though they do not pose a threat to the US mainland, they may still be a threat to Russia's national security.
Original link to the article- http://www.wantchinatimes.com/news-subclass-cnt.aspx?id=20150104000009&cid=1101
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