MND confirms China has built new nuclear submarines
Central News Agency
2007-07-26 18:09:46
Taipei, July 26 (CNA) The Ministry of National Defense (MND) confirmed Thursday that China has developed second-generation 094-type strategic nuclear-powered submarines that could carry 16 long-range "Great Wave-2" ballistic missiles.
The 094 model is equivalent to the U.S. Ohio-class in terms of mobility, flexibility, survivability and combat capability, according to a report carried on the MND's official Web site Thursday.
The MND said the low-noise 094 nuclear submarine is similar in size and look as the 092 first-generation Summer-class submarine developed by China in the early 1980s, but each of the 094 missiles can contain three nuclear warheads and the sub can fire 24 ballistic missiles at a time with a range of over 8,000 km.
The MND also quoted a Washington Times report of last December as indicating that since 2002, China has been buying or developing scores of new submarines, including 12 093 Shang-class nuclear-powered attack submarines and 10 Song-class conventional submarines.
Military observers said that China's acquisition of the new-generation nuclear subs would tremendously jeopardize the global security.
(By Deborah Kuo)
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