Xia class submarine
Encyclopedia
The 6,500-ton Type 092 Daqingyu (US Department of Defense designation Xia-class, Chinese designation 09-II) submarine was the first ballistic missile-carrying
, nuclear-powered
submarine
class (SSBN
) deployed by the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy
, and the first SSBN designed and built in Asia. She was designed by Peng Shilu (彭士禄 ) and Huang Xuhua (黄旭华), and derived from the Han-Class SSNs, with an extended hull to accommodate four missile tubes.
The first Changzheng 6 (# 406) of its class was laid down in 1978 at Huludao
120 miles North-East of Beijing; she was completed in 1981. She then spent 6 years being fitted out and conducting tests with its 12 JL-1
(CSS-N-3) missiles, becoming active in 1987. Later, the submarine went through numerous upgrades in incremental step, including using Type H/SQ2-262B sonar manufactured by No. 613 Factory replacing the original Type 604 sonar on board.
The 092 has undergone numerous refits, currently featuring a new black paint, possible quieting technologies, French－designed sonar, and the improved longer ranged JL-1A SLBM. It is reported that the 092 has not sailed beyond Chinese regional waters. One of the two Xias built was reported lost during an accident.
The Xia is aging however and a new Ballistic Missile Submarine design is in the works for the People's Liberation Army Navy. The US Defense Intelligence Agency lists the Xia-Class as being "Not Operational." While its capability is still being questioned, Xia made its world wide debut on April 23rd, 2009 celebrating the 60th anniversary of PLA Navy's founding.
The 092 class are homeported in Jianggezhuang
near Qingdao
.
Ballistic missile submarine
A ballistic missile submarine is a submarine equipped to launch ballistic missiles .-Description:Ballistic missile submarines are larger than any other type of submarine, in order to accommodate SLBMs such as the Russian R-29 or the American Trident...
, nuclear-powered
Nuclear marine propulsion
Nuclear marine propulsion is propulsion of a ship by a nuclear reactor. Naval nuclear propulsion is propulsion that specifically refers to naval warships...
submarine
Submarine
A submarine is a watercraft capable of independent operation below the surface of the water. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability...
class (SSBN
Ballistic missile submarine
A ballistic missile submarine is a submarine equipped to launch ballistic missiles .-Description:Ballistic missile submarines are larger than any other type of submarine, in order to accommodate SLBMs such as the Russian R-29 or the American Trident...
) deployed by the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy
People's Liberation Army Navy
The People's Liberation Army Navy is the naval branch of the People's Liberation Army , the military of the People's Republic of China. Until the early 1990s, the navy performed a subordinate role to the PLA Land Forces. Since then, it has undergone rapid modernisation...
, and the first SSBN designed and built in Asia. She was designed by Peng Shilu (
The first Changzheng 6 (# 406) of its class was laid down in 1978 at Huludao
Huludao
Huludao is a prefecture-level city in southwestern Liaoning Province, China. It is one of the two principal cities in the Liaoxi Corridor . Known as Jinxi until 1994, Huludao has a total area of 10,415 square kilometers and a population of 2.87 million, of which some 531,000 live in the city proper...
120 miles North-East of Beijing; she was completed in 1981. She then spent 6 years being fitted out and conducting tests with its 12 JL-1
JL-1
The Julang-1, also known as the JL-1 and in US nomenclature as the CSS-N-3, is China's first submarine launched nuclear ballistic missile.-History:...
(CSS-N-3) missiles, becoming active in 1987. Later, the submarine went through numerous upgrades in incremental step, including using Type H/SQ2-262B sonar manufactured by No. 613 Factory replacing the original Type 604 sonar on board.
The 092 has undergone numerous refits, currently featuring a new black paint, possible quieting technologies, French－designed sonar, and the improved longer ranged JL-1A SLBM. It is reported that the 092 has not sailed beyond Chinese regional waters. One of the two Xias built was reported lost during an accident.
The Xia is aging however and a new Ballistic Missile Submarine design is in the works for the People's Liberation Army Navy. The US Defense Intelligence Agency lists the Xia-Class as being "Not Operational." While its capability is still being questioned, Xia made its world wide debut on April 23rd, 2009 celebrating the 60th anniversary of PLA Navy's founding.
The 092 class are homeported in Jianggezhuang
Jianggezhuang
Jianggezhuang is a Chinese naval base approximately 15 miles east of Qingdao on the Yellow Sea. The base spans a bay 1.2 miles across, with the main facilities located in the eastern portion of the bay...
near Qingdao
Qingdao
' also known in the West by its postal map spelling Tsingtao, is a major city with a population of over 8.715 million in eastern Shandong province, Eastern China. Its built up area, made of 7 urban districts plus Jimo city, is home to about 4,346,000 inhabitants in 2010.It borders Yantai to the...
.