China Deploys his new Type 094 Nuclear Submarine to Reinforce Global Sea Domination.

According to information published by China Central Television on August 1, 2025, Chinese state media has aired a rare footage of a nuclear-armed ballistic missile submarine departing on a long-range patrol from an undisclosed naval facility. The broadcast showed the submarine underway and featured a symbolic declaration from one of the crew, who pledged to fire nuclear missiles “without hesitation” if ordered. The vessel is believed to be a Type 094 Jin-class submarine, one of six in China’s strategic submarine fleet, and forms a central component of the country’s sea-based nuclear deterrent, armed with JL-2 submarine-launched ballistic missiles.
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The Type 094 Jin-class is China’s first nuclear submarine with intercontinental ballistic missiles, forming a key part of its sea-based nuclear deterrent. (Picture source : OE Data Integration Network)

This state-sanctioned media release marks the first known instance in which China has publicly acknowledged the active deployment of a Type 094 SSBN. While Chinese authorities withheld the submarine’s hull number, mission profile, and exact ordnance, the vessel is believed to have departed from Longpo Naval Base, a fortified underground facility on Hainan Island that supports China’s nuclear submarine force. The timing and content of the footage appear carefully orchestrated to reinforce strategic signaling, both toward regional rivals and the broader international community, amid increasing tensions in the Indo-Pacific maritime domain.

According to the U.S. Department of Defense and multiple open-source intelligence assessments, the Type 094 Jin-class represents China’s first credible sea-based nuclear deterrent. These submarines are currently transitioning to the use of JL-3 intercontinental-range ballistic missiles, significantly extending their operational reach. From patrol zones in the South China Sea or Western Pacific, Type 094 units equipped with JL-3 missiles could place the entire continental United States within striking range. Concurrently, development of the next-generation Type 096 SSBN is progressing, with a projected in-service date by the end of the decade. China is also investing heavily in new nuclear-powered attack submarines, notably the upcoming Type 095 and advanced conventional Type 041 classes, intended to enhance underwater warfare capabilities and fleet escort functions.

From a technical perspective, the Type 094 submarine is a second-generation Chinese SSBN designed to bridge the gap between legacy platforms and more advanced strategic deterrent systems under development. The submarine has an estimated submerged displacement of approximately 11,000 to 12,000 tons and measures around 135 meters in length. Powered by a pressurized-water nuclear reactor, the vessel can remain submerged for extended durations, enabling prolonged deterrent patrols without surfacing. Its submerged top speed is estimated at 20 to 24 knots, with a maximum operational depth of over 300 meters. The Type 094 is equipped with twelve vertical launch silos for JL-2 missiles, which have a range estimated between 7,200 and 8,000 kilometers and may carry a single 1-megaton nuclear warhead or multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles (MIRVs), depending on the configuration.

In terms of defensive and tactical systems, the Type 094 carries six 533 mm torpedo tubes capable of launching heavyweight torpedoes and naval mines. The submarine is also believed to be equipped with basic to moderately advanced electronic warfare systems, acoustic countermeasures, and decoy dispensers to evade detection or attack from enemy forces. However, Western analysts generally assess the Type 094 as acoustically inferior to American and Russian SSBNs, particularly the U.S. Navy’s Ohio-class or Russia’s Borei-class. Significant noise levels make the submarine more detectable in open-ocean environments, although recent upgrades suggest incremental improvements in sonar damping and hull design.

Compared to other major submarine powers such as the United States, Russia, France, and the United Kingdom, China’s ballistic missile submarine force remains less mature but is rapidly advancing. The U.S. Navy leads with its fleet of 14 Ohio-class SSBNs, renowned for stealth, endurance, and global strike capability, soon to be replaced by the new Columbia-class. Russia maintains a deterrent with its Borei-class submarines, armed with advanced SLBMs and benefiting from decades of undersea warfare experience. France and the UK operate fewer but highly sophisticated SSBNs, Triomphant-class and Vanguard-class respectively, with proven second-strike capabilities and integrated NATO interoperability. China’s Type 094, while a significant milestone, still trails in acoustic stealth and missile range. However, with the upcoming Type 096 and JL-3 missile integration, China is closing the gap and shifting from a minimal deterrent posture to a more assertive and survivable sea-based nuclear force.

The public broadcast of a nuclear submarine deployment comes at a time of escalating strategic competition between China and the United States, particularly in maritime domains. Friction over Taiwan, expanding U.S. defense cooperation with regional allies such as Japan, the Philippines, and Australia, and recent military exercises in the South China Sea have sharply raised tensions. The announcement may also serve as a strategic counter to the U.S. Navy’s forward deployments and submarine operations under the AUKUS framework. By showcasing a second-strike platform under official media guidance, Beijing aims to strengthen nuclear deterrence messaging, assert its regional claims, and deter potential adversaries from interfering in what it considers its core national interests.

This deliberate public unveiling underscores a new level of Chinese confidence in showcasing its maturing second-strike nuclear force. It reflects a shift in strategic posture where China is no longer content to rely solely on ambiguity but instead is prepared to use overt messaging to reinforce deterrence, demonstrate credibility, and assert its growing role as a global nuclear power. The deployment and publicization of Type 094 patrols marks a turning point in China’s strategic communication, potentially influencing future regional naval dynamics and deterrence calculations.