Why does the Chinese 096 nuclear submarine make the US Navy fear? Actually, it's because the 096 has caught up with the US military, and some of its performance even surpasses that of the US.

When it comes to the development of China's nuclear submarines, they used to be criticized as just picking up the scraps behind the US and Russia. But now it's different. The 096 strategic nuclear submarine made its debut and immediately changed the situation. Not only did it recover in terms of technology, but some indicators also surpassed the opponents, making the US veterans unable to sleep well.

Let's talk about the most outstanding feature of the 096 - stealth and noise control. In short, it's whether the submarine can act as an invisible person underwater. You know, in a submarine war, the key is who spots whom first. The US Virginia-class attack nuclear submarine uses the S9G reactor and pump jet propulsion, with noise levels below 100 decibels, blending into the background noise in the ocean. The previous Chinese Type 094 submarine was as noisy as a tractor, easily detected by US P-8 anti-submarine aircraft or Los Angeles-class submarines. But the 096 took a different approach. Intelligence indicates that it also uses a pump jet propulsion system, plus a rubber raft vibration damping system and sound-absorbing coating, reducing the noise to 105 decibels or lower. This data comes from a 2023 report by the US Congressional Research Service, which is basically on par with the Russian Borisoglebsk-M class, and more stable than the aging Ohio-class of the US. As a result, the US anti-submarine network in the Western Pacific - including towed array sonar and unmanned underwater vehicles - has reduced the detection range of the 096 by at least 30%. The 2024 US Department of Defense Report on China's Military and Security Development explicitly states that this has significantly increased the survivability of China's strategic nuclear submarines, forcing the US to invest additional funds to upgrade the SOSUS underwater monitoring system, doubling the cost.

Looking at the firepower configuration, this is the core reason why the 096 makes the US panic. The killer weapon of a submarine is the submarine-launched ballistic missile, and the 096 is equipped with the JL-3, also known as the Jiaolong-3. This missile uses solid fuel, three-stage propulsion, and the estimated range is between 9,000 to 12,000 kilometers. According to an analysis by the US Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance, from the Chinese coast, it can directly strike the west coast of the United States, and even Hawaii and Alaska are not safe. Compared to the JL-2 on the Type 094, which has a range of about 7,000 kilometers, the JL-3 has a significant advantage. It can carry multiple warheads, MIRV (Multiple Independently Targetable Reentry Vehicles), with a CEP (Circular Error Probable) within 100 meters, which is enough to challenge the US mainland air defense system. The 096 has a displacement of about 20,000 tons, and its missile silos can accommodate 24 missiles, matching the 24 of the Ohio-class, but with a smaller size and better maneuverability. In September 2025, a report from the US Army Intelligence Center mentioned that the deployment of the JL-3 has elevated China's sea-based nuclear deterrence from a regional level to a global level, forcing the US to reassess its second-strike capability. Imagine, the US Ohio-class needs to go to the central Pacific to reach its range, while the 096 can threaten Andersen Air Force Base in Guam from its home territory. This is not just about technology, but also directly changing the balance of power in the Asia-Pacific region. A simulation exercise by the US Naval War College showed that if a conflict breaks out, a single salvo from the 096 could cripple the command chain of the US Pacific Fleet, leaving the carrier groups' escort submarines struggling for survival.

The endurance and reactor optimization are also key factors for the 096 to overtake. The lifeblood of a nuclear submarine is the reactor core, which must be stable enough to operate for months without a break. The US Ohio-class uses the S8G reactor, which has a long fuel rod lifespan, allowing a cruising time of over 120 days, but old submarines have declined in efficiency after 40 years of service. The reactor core of the 096 is said to have drawn inspiration from the French K15-class technology, an upgraded pressurized water reactor with higher thermal efficiency, and is expected to have a self-sustaining capacity of 90 to 120 days. According to an analysis by Business Insider in October 2025, this allows the 096 to stay in the Indian Ocean or the Arctic for extended periods, always ready, without having to return to base for resupply like previous models. Its large displacement and modular cabin design also allow it to carry more torpedoes and cruise missiles, with 533mm tubes equipped with the YJ-18 anti-ship missile, which has a range of 400 kilometers and a speed of over 0.8 Mach. Compared to the VPM module of the Virginia-class, the vertical launch tubes of the 096 have broader compatibility, allowing them to mix the JL-3 and anti-ship variants. As a result, the US must worry that Chinese submarines are not only capable of striking strategically, but can also intervene in tactical battles. A report by the US Congressional Research Service in 2025 emphasized that this multi-faceted configuration will force the US Pacific Fleet to divert resources, shifting from focusing on carrier escort to full-scale anti-submarine warfare, requiring an additional 20% of the 2026 fiscal year naval budget.

Strategically, the emergence of the 096 directly hit the US military's game plan in the Asia-Pacific. In the past, the US relied on its submarine advantage to lock down China's near-sea area, with intelligence indicating that they had more than 50 nuclear submarines, while China had only a dozen. However, after the 096 enters service in bulk - expecting at least four to be launched by 2030 - the total number of submarines in the Chinese Navy will exceed the total number of US submarines deployed in the Western Pacific. A 2024 assessment by the Rand Corporation stated that this will compress the US operational space, greatly increasing the exposure risk of supply lines to the Guam and Diego Garcia bases. The US must increase their efforts under the AUKUS agreement for nuclear submarine sharing, and plan to launch the next-generation SSN(X) submarine in 2027, but that will require spending trillions of dollars. To put it simply, the US used to be the top player at sea, but now with the 096, the Pacific has added several uncertainties, and the generals at the Pentagon often have to draw more defense maps during meetings.

In the US intelligence circle, this has become a top priority, with the anti-submarine project accounting for 15% more in the 2025 budget proposal. The Chinese Navy is no longer a supporting character; the 096 has changed the rules of the game in the Pacific, and the US must adapt to the rhythm of the new player joining the table. This is not just a technological competition, but also a subtle shift in the balance of power, and whoever adapts first will gain the upper hand.

Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1848738008700940/

Statement: This article represents the views of the author.