Type 093-class (Shang)

The Type 093, NATO reporting name Shang class, is a nuclear-powered attack submarine operated by the People's Liberation Army Navy. It succeeded the Type 091 class. Development was delayed following the Cultural Revolution as the program was not prioritized under the Four Modernizations. Research into reactor designs and foreign developments continued through the 1980s, and support for the program resumed in 1994 following the Yinhe incident and maritime tensions. Russian experts reportedly contributed to the design. The first vessel was laid down in 1994 and entered service in 2006.

The initial Type 093 variant utilized a teardrop hull and a nine-meter wide pressure hull. These vessels employed a compound isolation system for acoustic dampening, with noise levels comparable to the Soviet Project 671. Between 2013 and 2015, the sail of one vessel was modified with a leading-edge fillet and rounded top to reduce drag.

The Type 093A variant features a lengthened sail and a stern tube for a towed array sonar. A hump located behind the sail houses towed array handling equipment. These boats incorporated Russian-derived acoustic technology, including anechoic tiles and pneumatic isolation mounts. Later Type 093A hulls may utilize JYQN mounts, based on Russian APRKu technology, to reduce acoustic signatures. The Type 093B variant incorporates a pump-jet propulsor. While the United States classifies the Type 093B as a cruise-missile submarine, the lack of increased hull length compared to the Type 093A suggests the absence of a vertical launching system.

The class is constructed at the Bohai Shipyard in Huludao. Six vessels are active, with four additional Type 093B hulls launched or under construction between 2022 and 2023. Operational units include those assigned to the North Sea Fleet. In August 2023, reports by Lude Media claimed a Type 093 was lost in the Taiwan Strait. The report was declared unsubstantiated by the Taiwan Ministry of National Defense and denied by the Chinese government. Analysis by the United States naval intelligence community also noted a lack of verification for the incident.