China’s submarine fleet remains one of its most closely guarded military capabilities. However, a next-generation nuclear-powered attack submarine (SSN) has recently been identified in satellite images after being moved to a launch facility at the Bohai Shipyard in Huludao.
Designated the Type 09V — also known as the Type 095 — the submarine is still under construction but could be launched within the next year. High-resolution imagery brought the vessel to light, with Naval News reporting on it on February 12. Analysts estimate its submerged displacement to be between 9,000 and 10,000 tons.
The submarine is intended for service with the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) and reflects Beijing’s sustained push to expand and modernise its fleet of nuclear-powered submarines. According to Chinese military analyst Rick Joe, the PLAN’s current SSN inventory likely includes one or two aging Type 091 boats (if still operational), along with two Type 09III units, four Type 09IIIA variants, and two to three Type 09IIIB submarines.
Joe also estimates that an additional five to six Type 09IIIB submarines are either being completed or undergoing sea trials. That pace equates to roughly three new SSNs entering the water annually — notably faster than the United States’ average production rate of just over one submarine per year. In the ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) category, the PLAN is believed to operate six Type 09IV vessels, with potentially one or two more recently launched and in final preparation stages.
New design features
Assessing the Type 09V, Joe noted its broader beam compared to the earlier Type 09III class — approximately 40 feet (12 metres) versus 36 feet (11 metres). The platform is expected to incorporate several technological upgrades, including X-configured stern control surfaces, both fixed and retractable diving planes for enhanced manoeuvrability, and a pumpjet propulsion system.
There are also indications that the submarine may depart from China’s traditional double-hull construction approach, possibly adopting a single-hull or hybrid design instead.
Measuring about 360 feet (110 metres) in length, the Type 09V reportedly features eight universal vertical launch system (VLS) cells. Similar to the latest United States Navy Virginia-class attack submarines, each cell is believed to accommodate multiple missile canisters — potentially three per cell in China’s configuration.
Production outlook
While the exact timeline for commissioning remains uncertain, the first Type 09V could enter operational service around 2029, following outfitting and extensive sea trials. China typically constructs two prototypes of a new submarine class before initiating full-scale production, allowing engineers to address early design issues. As a result, production of the existing Type 09IIIB model is likely to continue into the early 2030s.
Although the U.S. Navy retains advantages in submarine warfare and anti-submarine capabilities, the emergence of the Type 09V underscores China’s determination to narrow that technological gap.
The Bohai Shipyard provides ample manufacturing capacity. Its Eastern Assembly Hall includes 12 construction bays measuring 144 metres each, while the newer Southern Assembly Hall contains eight larger bays of 157.5 metres. Together, these facilities could theoretically support the simultaneous construction of up to 20 submarines of SSN scale.
China’s future Type 09VI ballistic missile submarine is also expected to incorporate technologies derived from this latest attack submarine design.
Armament developments
Among the advanced weapons that could equip the Type 09V is the YJ-19 hypersonic anti-ship missile, publicly displayed during China’s military parade in September 2025. Rick Joe has described the YJ-19 as a scramjet-powered cruise missile sized to fit standard 553mm submarine torpedo tubes. Because it can be launched from torpedo tubes rather than exclusively from VLS cells, it could significantly enhance anti-surface strike flexibility across compatible submarines.
Recently, the PLAN confirmed that the YJ-19 has been integrated into its Type 039B diesel-electric submarines, marking the first known instance of hypersonic weapons being deployed aboard conventionally powered submarines.
