Lurking quietly beneath the waves, the Type 094 (and its upgraded Type 094A variant), known to NATO as the Jin Class, is the ultimate heavy hitter of the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) and the backbone of China's sea-based nuclear deterrent. Entering service in 2007 as a massive leap forward from the unreliable first-generation Xia class, this 11,000-ton, nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) is built for one purpose: assured second-strike capability. Instantly recognizable by the pronounced turtleback hull that houses its Vertical Launch System (VLS), the Jin Class carries 12 submarine-launched ballistic missiles. While originally armed with the JL-2, the modern Type 094A fleet has recently been upgraded with the advanced JL-3 SLBM, granting it an estimated range of over 10,000 kilometers. This critical upgrade allows the submarine to hold the continental United States at risk without ever having to leave the protective, heavily guarded South China Sea.

The Jin Class is currently making global headlines in early 2026 amid international defense reports confirming that China's aggressive nuclear submarine production surge has officially outpaced the output of the United States. Furthermore, in an unprecedented show of force, Chinese state media recently broadcast rare, highly publicized footage of a fully armed Jin Class submarine departing its heavily fortified underground base on Hainan Island for a deterrence patrol, signaling a bold, confident new era for the PLAN's silent service.

Learn more about the Jin Class and 54 other vessels in service with the China's People's Liberation Army in our China's People's Liberation Army Edition of Ship Recognition Playing Cards deck!