China’s nuclear power: what is known about a new submarine similar to the Russian one
The first photo of China’s newest nuclear-powered submarine, the Type 09IIIB, was published on Chinese social media and on the X platform. This was reported by Naval News.
The submarine was captured during testing, and the image clearly demonstrates its streamlined design, which has been significantly improved compared to previous versions of the Type 09III series of multi-purpose nuclear-powered submarines.
Externally, the new submarine resembles the Russian Project 885 Yasen submarine. This boat is an improved version of the Soviet Project 971 Shchuka-B, but belongs to the fourth generation of nuclear submarines – the most advanced to date.
Despite the similarities, the newest Type 09IIIB submarine is a significant breakthrough for China in the development of modern nuclear submarines. Experts suggest that this submarine can be equipped with three rows of launchers, the total number of which could be 18. However, this statement cannot be confirmed with certainty.
