The Race for Stealth: US vs. China's Nuclear-powered Submarines

TLDRThe USS Louisiana and China's Type 094 are nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines designed to hide and serve as an insurance policy in case of a nuclear attack. The Ohio class submarines of the US are more survivable and carry the Trident II missile, while China's Jin class submarines are noisier and carry the JL-2 or JL-3 missile. Both countries are developing their next-generation submarines, with the US building the Columbia class and China the Type 096. The US submarines are expected to be even quieter, ensuring their stealthiness over China's submarines.

Key insights

💣Nuclear-powered ballistic submarines like the USS Louisiana and China's Type 094 serve as an insurance policy in the event of a nuclear attack.

🔒Survivability is crucial for submarines, and the Ohio class submarines of the US are considered more survivable than China's Jin class submarines.

🚀The US Navy's Ohio class submarines carry the Trident II missile, which has a range of about 4,000 nautical miles and can carry up to 8 warheads.

🐉China's Jin class submarines carry either the JL-2 or JL-3 missile, with ranges of about 3,780 and 5,400 nautical miles respectively.

🔜Both the US and China are working on their next-generation submarines: the Columbia class and the Type 096 respectively.

Q&A

What is the purpose of nuclear-powered ballistic submarines?

—Nuclear-powered ballistic submarines serve as an insurance policy in case of a nuclear attack.

How does the US Navy's Ohio class submarine differ from China's Jin class submarine?

—The Ohio class submarines of the US are considered more survivable and carry the Trident II missile, while China's Jin class submarines are noisier and carry the JL-2 or JL-3 missile.

What missile does the USS Louisiana carry?

—The USS Louisiana carries the Trident II missile, which has a range of about 4,000 nautical miles and can carry up to 8 warheads.

What missiles do China's Jin class submarines carry?

—China's Jin class submarines carry either the JL-2 or JL-3 missile, with ranges of about 3,780 and 5,400 nautical miles respectively.

What are the next-generation submarines being developed by the US and China?

—The US is developing the Columbia class submarines, while China is developing the Type 096 submarines.

Timestamped Summary

00:00The USS Louisiana and China's Type 094 are nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines designed to hide and serve as an insurance policy in case of a nuclear attack.

02:26The Ohio class submarines of the US are considered more survivable than China's Jin class submarines.

03:26The US Navy's Ohio class submarines carry the Trident II missile, which has a range of about 4,000 nautical miles and can carry up to 8 warheads.

04:51China's Jin class submarines carry either the JL-2 or JL-3 missile, with ranges of about 3,780 and 5,400 nautical miles respectively.

05:45Both the US and China are working on their next-generation submarines: the Columbia class and the Type 096 respectively.

Browse more