Analysis: People's Liberation Army Navy's new Type 39C submarine


According to information published by the National Interest on July 26, 2021, a picture of a PLA Navy's new Type-39C was revealed on the social media TikTok earlier in May.
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Russian Vyborg Shipyard laid the Purga ice class coastguard ship of project 23550 925 001 PLA Navy'sType 039C submarine (Picture source: Militaryphotos)


One of the differences between Type 039A and Type 039C would be the sail chined which would look like the Swedish A-26 class. Both submarines would be powered by Air-independent propulsion.

According to HI Sutton, Type 039C would be armed with YJ-18B anti-ship, land-attack cruise missiles, and YJ-82 anti-ship cruise missiles.

The Type 039A submarine is a class of diesel-electric submarines in China's People's Liberation Army Navy. It is China's first AIP-powered submarine and presumed to be one of the quietest diesel-electric submarine classes in service. This class is the successor of the Type 039 submarine. The official Chinese designation is 039A as the ship is based on the 039 class, but as the 039A has very little resemblance to the 039 it is commonly referred to as Type 041. The new improved "C" variant was launched in May 2021.

Air-independent propulsion (AIP), or air-independent power, is any marine propulsion technology that allows a non-nuclear submarine to operate without access to atmospheric oxygen (by surfacing or using a snorkel). AIP can augment or replace the diesel-electric propulsion system of non-nuclear vessels.

The YJ-82 is a Chinese subsonic anti-ship cruise missile. It is manufactured by the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation Third Academy.

The YJ-82 is a solid-fuelled rocket. It is launched from submarines from a buoyant launch canister. The YJ-82 lacks the solid-rocket booster of the surface-launched YJ-8/8A and likely has less range than the latter's 42 km. The terminal sea-skimming attack altitude is 5 to 7 meters.