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China’s Latest Nuclear-Powered Attack Submarine, Type 09IIIB: A Significant Leap in Maritime Capabilities

The emergence of the Type 09IIIB is a clear indicator of China’s ongoing efforts to bolster its naval power as part of its anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) strategy in the South China Sea and across the broader Indo-Pacific region.

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(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) — China’s formidable new nuclear-powered attack submarine (SSN), the Type 09IIIB—dubbed the Shang-III class—emerges as a bold testament to the People’s Liberation Army Navy’s (PLAN) relentless pursuit of dominance beneath the waves, marking a dramatic leap in its ever-expanding undersea warfare prowess.
Developed as an advanced iteration of the Type 093 (Shang-class), this new submarine places a strong emphasis on enhanced strike capabilities, improved stealth, and superior underwater operational efficiency.
Measuring approximately 126 meters in length with a beam of around 11 meters, the Type 09IIIB offers ample space to accommodate advanced weapon systems and state-of-the-art sonar equipment.
With an estimated displacement of around 6,200 tons, it ranks among the larger nuclear-powered attack submarines within PLAN’s fleet.
The Type 09IIIB is capable of reaching maximum underwater speeds of up to 30 knots, powered by a ducted pump-jet propulsion system.
This system is specifically designed to minimize acoustic signatures, significantly enhancing stealth—a critical attribute in modern undersea warfare.
China
Type 09IIIB—dubbed the Shang-III class
In terms of armament, the submarine is equipped with up to 18 Vertical Launch System (VLS) cells, capable of deploying a variety of cruise missiles, including the YJ-21, which boasts a range of up to 2,500 kilometers.
The YJ-21 (also known as the Eagle Strike-21 or Yingji-21) is a hypersonic anti-ship missile developed by China, designed to target high-value naval assets such as aircraft carriers and large warships.
It represents a significant advancement in China’s maritime strike capabilities.
Key Features of the YJ-21:
  • Speed: Hypersonic, estimated to reach speeds of up to Mach 10, making it extremely difficult to intercept with current missile defense systems.
  • Range: Estimated between 1,500 km to 2,000 km, enabling it to strike targets at long distances.
  • Launch Platforms: Can be launched from Type 055 destroyers, with potential variants for land-based and submarine platforms.
  • Guidance System: Likely equipped with advanced terminal guidance systems, enhancing its precision against moving targets.
  • Purpose: Designed to penetrate advanced naval defense systems, giving China an edge in anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) operations, particularly in contested areas like the South China Sea.
The YJ-21’s hypersonic speed and maneuverability make it a formidable threat, challenging existing naval defense strategies and highlighting China’s growing focus on power projection in maritime domains.
YJ-21
YJ-21
The submarine features a hydrodynamically optimized teardrop-shaped hull design. Its sail is fitted with advanced electro-optical systems, while the bow houses a high-performance sonar array for long-range detection.
At the stern, the pump-jet propulsion system not only improves hydrodynamic efficiency but also reduces noise, offering a quieter acoustic profile compared to its predecessors.
Footage of the Type 09IIIB undergoing sea trials, which surfaced in early 2025, has provided unprecedented insights into the submarine’s technological advancements.
The trials highlighted significant improvements in silent operations, speed, and missile launch efficiency—further underscoring China’s commitment to enhancing its undersea dominance both regionally and globally.
This is only the third time the new design has been observed from a ground perspective, with the latest sighting offering a clearer view of the submarine’s upgraded features and its potential role in China’s expanding maritime ambitions.

china

The arrival of the Type 09IIIB stands as a powerful symbol of China’s unyielding drive to fortify its naval might, a strategic juggernaut crafted to enforce its anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) ambitions and project dominance across the contested waters of the South China Sea and the vast expanse of the Indo-Pacific.
Its ability to launch long-range missiles from beneath the surface provides the PLAN with a strategic advantage in potential conflict scenarios, particularly in high-tech maritime warfare environments.
Overall, the Type 09IIIB represents a significant leap forward in China’s nuclear-powered submarine program, signaling rapid advancements in the nation’s military technology and underscoring its increasingly pivotal role in shaping the regional security landscape.
— DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA

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