Monday, October 13, 2008

Type 039

IOC: 1999
Total Production: 10

Type 039A

IOC: 2010
Production: 2

Also Known As
Yuan (NATO codename)

Origin
China

Program Status:
Under Construction

Contractor/s
Wuhan Shipbuilding Industry Company

Family Members
Type 039

Guided Missiles:
YJ-8

Description: The Type 039A, NATO codename: Yuan, is a new diesel-electric submarine leveraging influence from both Type 039G and Russian Kilo submarines. The new submarine features a new rubber anti-sonar coating which could provide outstanding reduction of acoustic signature. The Type 039A lead ship entered sea trials in 2005 and some reports suggest that technical problems have delayed its commissioning by the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN). A second ship is also under construction. Wuhan Shipbuilding Industry Company is responsible for the construction of both ships.

The Type 039A is equipped with five or six 533mm torpedo tubes at the bow which can launch torpedoes, YJ-8 anti-ship missiles and mines. The propulsion system is based on diesel engines but according to other sources the Type 039A might be the first Chinese conventionally-powered attack submarine (SSK) provided with an Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) system. The Pentagon's 2008 China Military Report forecasts that Yuan-class should enter service by 2010.

Specifications
Other: Torpedo Tubes 5

Operators

China / 2 / Under Construction

Ships

330 / Under Construction

Notes
(*) lead contractor
IOC: Initial Operating Capability
FOC: Full Operating Capability
CEP: Circular Error Probable
Comm: Commissioning Date
Meters (m) Kilometers (km) Nautic Miles (nm) Inch (in) Yard (yd) Foot (ft) Millimeter (mm)
Pound (lb) Kilogram (kg) kN (KiloNewton) Ton (t)
Meters per Second (mps) Kilometers per Hour (kph) Knot (kt) Miles per Hour (mph)
Liter (l) Galon (gl)
Year (yr) Minutes (min) Second (sec)
Shaft-Horse-Power (shp)

Last Updated: Friday, October 10, 2008

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