Exclusive: China Reveals Improved Variant of Type 094 Nuclear Submarine with Advanced Capabilities.

For the first time, China has disclosed new technical specifications of its Type 094 nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN), revealing significantly upgraded capabilities that suggest the emergence of a new and improved variant within the class. The announcement was made during the People’s Liberation Army Navy’s (PLAN) open day on April 23, 2025, and was reported by the South China Morning Post on May 2, 2025. This marks a rare public acknowledgment of the operational performance of one of China’s most critical strategic assets.
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A Chinese Type 094 nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine underway at sea. The latest improved variant features enhanced speed, deeper diving capability, and upgraded strategic missile systems. (Picture source: China social network)

According to technical details observed and collected by a South China Morning Post journalist during the event, the Type 094 SSBN is now confirmed to have a maximum submerged speed of 30 knots and an operational depth of 400 meters. These figures represent a considerable leap over previous assessments that estimated the submarine’s top speed at 20 knots and its maximum operating depth at 300 meters. These upgraded parameters are indicative of a newly constructed or extensively modernized version of the original design—rather than a simple retrofit—suggesting enhancements to propulsion, hull integrity, and onboard systems.

The submarine’s propulsion system is a pressurized water-cooled nuclear reactor, which powers a single shaft via a steam turbine arrangement. While specific technical components remain classified, the improvements in submerged speed and stealth performance likely stem from the integration of more modern powerplant elements, better vibration dampening, and possibly the use of quieter propeller technologies or pump-jet propulsion. These enhancements are critical in reducing acoustic signatures, which are vital for strategic submarines designed to operate undetected in contested waters.

Crew composition aboard the Type 094 typically ranges from 120 to 140 personnel, covering all operational domains including navigation, reactor control, weapons deployment, sonar monitoring, and missile operations. A dedicated team manages the strategic missile arsenal, reflecting the platform's primary role in China’s nuclear triad. Crew training has been significantly improved in recent years, aligning with the PLAN’s efforts to ensure continuous at-sea deterrence patrols.

The submarine is equipped with 12 JL-2 submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs), each with an estimated range of 7,000 kilometers (4,350 miles). This range allows the submarine to engage targets across the Pacific, including the northeastern United States, from waters near the Chinese mainland. The JL-2 missiles are believed to use inertial navigation systems with satellite-aided corrections via China’s Beidou GPS alternative, improving targeting accuracy. While China has not officially confirmed the Multiple Independently targetable Reentry Vehicle (MIRV) capability of the JL-2, it is widely assessed by defense analysts that certain versions of the missile may support this functionality, allowing one missile to deliver multiple nuclear warheads to separate targets.

Beyond its nuclear payload, the Type 094 is also fitted with six 533 mm torpedo tubes positioned in the forward hull. These provide conventional defensive capabilities and are likely used to launch Yu-6 torpedoes, which are wire-guided, high-speed, active/passive homing weapons modeled after the U.S. Navy’s Mk 48. With a range exceeding 30 kilometers and speeds up to 60 knots, these torpedoes give the SSBN limited anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and anti-ship capabilities. The submarine may also carry acoustic decoys, sonar countermeasures, and towed array sonar systems to detect threats and evade hostile forces during patrols.

Currently, at least six Type 094 submarines are in operational service with the PLAN, with most believed to be based at Yulin Naval Base on Hainan Island. The newly revealed specifications suggest that one or more units are of a newly upgraded variant—possibly a distinct sub-class—indicating an evolution in China's undersea deterrent posture. These enhancements reflect China’s sustained investment in bolstering the survivability and reach of its sea-based nuclear forces.

The decision to release technical information on such a strategic asset is unprecedented and signals a calculated move by Beijing to reinforce the credibility of its naval deterrent. While still limited in scope, the disclosure demonstrates growing confidence in the PLAN’s submarine force and serves both domestic reassurance and strategic signaling to foreign observers. As part of China's wider military modernization program, the improved Type 094 SSBN underscores Beijing's ambitions to establish a survivable, secure, and technologically advanced second-strike capability, further solidifying its role as a major nuclear power with global reach.