China’s R & D programme to develop
the double-hulled Project S-26/Type 032 Qing-class and Project S-30/Type 032
Qing-class SSK submarines—all to be powered by China-developed Stirling Engine air-independent
propulsion systems—was begun in January 2005.
The first and only S-26 was
launched at Wuchang Shipyard in Wuhan in September 2010, and it
completed its harbour-trials by September 2012. Its sea-trials commenced on October
16, 2012 in the Bohai Sea. The S-26 has a length of 92.6 metres, width of 10 metres,
hydroplane width of 13 metres and a height of 17.2 metres. It has a draught of
6.85 metres when surfaced with a displacement of 3,797 tons. It operates at a
submerged depth of 160 metres, but can dive as deep as 200 metres. Maximum surfaced
speed is 10 Knots and maximum submerged speed is 14 Knots. It can operate with a
crew of 88 for 30 days without resupply, or 200 crewmen for three days.
The S-30 will have a submerged
displacement of 6,628 tons, and will be armed with four vertically-launched
Babur long-range land-attack cruise missiles and two submarine-launched
ballistic missiles (SLBM), most likely the upgraded JL-1 SLBM. Construction of
the first S-30 is presently underway at Wuhan. Deliveries, however, will not
commence until 2020 at best.
The S-26 and S-30 submarines
are being developed by China solely for the Pakistan Navy, and they will not
enter service with the PLA Navy. The Pakistan Navy will procure four S-26s and
four S-30s. China will also supply Pakistan with a submarine rebuild centre
(SRC) that will be located at Ormara, and a VLF
communications facility that will be located at Turbat. Deliveries of the S-26 submarines
will begin by 2017.
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