On August 1, 2025, China took a rare step by airing state media footage of a nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine departing on a long-range patrol — signaling a bold move in its evolving maritime strategy. The video, broadcast by China Central Television (CCTV), showed the submarine at sea, accompanied by a declaration from a crew member who vowed to launch nuclear missiles “without hesitation” if ordered. Although the submarine’s details were not disclosed, it is believed to be a Type 094 Jin-class, one of six SSBNs forming the backbone of China’s sea-based nuclear deterrent.
This is the first public acknowledgment by Beijing of an active strategic deployment involving a Type 094. The vessel reportedly departed from the Longpo Naval Base on Hainan Island — a secure underground facility tailored to support China’s growing nuclear submarine fleet. The footage appears to have been deliberately timed to send a calculated strategic message amid intensifying geopolitical friction in the Indo-Pacific.
According to U.S. defense officials and open-source intelligence, the Type 094 marks China’s first viable submarine-based nuclear strike capability. Its primary weapon, the JL-2 submarine-launched ballistic missile, is soon to be replaced by the longer-range JL-3, which could allow future patrols to target the entire U.S. mainland from within the Western Pacific. Meanwhile, development continues on the more advanced Type 096 SSBN, projected to enter service by decade’s end, alongside China’s investments in new Type 095 attack submarines and improved Type 041 diesel-electric subs.
From a technical perspective, the Type 094 represents a transitional platform — more advanced than China’s older strategic subs, but still trailing behind U.S., Russian, or NATO counterparts in terms of stealth and sophistication. With a submerged displacement between 11,000 and 12,000 tons, and a length of approximately 135 meters, it is powered by a pressurized-water nuclear reactor, giving it extended underwater endurance. It can reach speeds of up to 24 knots and operate at depths beyond 300 meters.
Armed with 12 vertical launch tubes, the submarine carries JL-2 missiles with a range of up to 8,000 kilometers, capable of housing either a single large nuclear warhead or MIRVs (Multiple Independently Targetable Reentry Vehicles). For close-range defense and versatility, it also features six 533mm torpedo tubes, and is believed to carry a range of torpedoes, mines, and basic electronic countermeasures. Despite upgrades, Western analysts still consider its acoustic profile noisier than U.S. Ohio-class or Russia’s Borei-class SSBNs, making it more detectable in open waters.
Nonetheless, China is rapidly advancing. Compared to the mature fleets of the U.S., Russia, France, and the UK, its SSBN program is still developing — but closing the gap. The U.S. leads with its stealthy Ohio-class submarines, set to be replaced by the Columbia-class. Russia continues to deploy Borei-class SSBNs, while the UK and France operate Vanguard and Triomphant classes, respectively. China’s fleet may lag in stealth and missile sophistication, but with JL-3 integration and the future Type 096, the strategic balance is shifting.
The public broadcast of a nuclear patrol at such a delicate time — amid rising tensions over Taiwan, growing U.S. alliances in the region (AUKUS, Japan, Philippines, Australia), and contested claims in the South China Sea — serves a dual purpose. It projects confidence in China’s second-strike capabilities while acting as a strategic deterrent message to Washington and its allies.
This marks a strategic communications shift for China — from deliberate ambiguity to open deterrence signaling. As Beijing asserts itself more confidently on the world stage, the deployment of Type 094 submarines and their public visibility are likely to influence future maritime dynamics, power projection, and nuclear stability in the Indo-Pacific.
