The Yuan class in NATO's reporting system is the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy, (PLAN), which has been busy building attack submarines over the past few years. These large-sized submarines are similar in size to the Russian Kilo-class. They are designed for deep water operations in the shallows and at sea. They can also be used as anti-ship cruise missile platforms.
Three types of Yuan-class submarines are available. Each model has a different sail type. They are known by the Type 039A Type 039C Type 041. The first version was manufactured at Wuhan Shipyard. The second Yuan is rumored to be under construction. These vessels are expected join the PLAN fleet by 2028.
According to Chinese Internet-language Internet, the new Yuan is 77.2 metres in length. It is believed to have a larger beam than the Song class. The new boats also have an optronic mast as well as periscopes. These are likely to make the new vessels more effective than earlier rubber tiles.
The Type-035 Ming Class submarines' forecase was modified in 2010 with a chined, upper sail. A towed array sonar is also installed by the Chinese Navy on its vessels. In the future, it is possible that the Yuan class will be equipped with long-range antisubmarine ballistic missiles.
The Yuan-class was recently assessed by the US Naval Institute as an anti-ship cruise-missile platform. They also assessed the submarines' ability to operate in deep water and near-seas. They concluded that the submarine’s AIP system could keep it submerged for two weeks. The submarine can also carry a small amount of missiles. The submarine has a long range cruise missile called the C-802, which has a range of up to 180 kilometers.
In his essay, Holst incorrectly concluded that the Yuan-class submarines carried the C-802 ASCM. Holst asserts that the submarines were constructed with this weapon. However, the US intelligence community requires all submarines carrying a missile to have dedicated launchers. It is believed that the Yuan class has at least two air-independent propeller (AIP), systems. This means that there are no separate oxygen supplies for the submarine. AIP systems can be used to help modern SSKs remain underwater for as long as four weeks.
The Chinese Navy also has a long history of building submarines, and the Yuan-class is just one of the latest additions to the fleet. China has actually built thirteen Type 039A submarines. At least four more will be built by 2023. China's first Type 039A submarine was constructed in 2005. It was built in Wuhan Shipyard. It completed sea trials by 2006. There is no information available about other variants.
China's Yuan-class submarines had been exported to Thailand (Pakistan) and Myanmar (as of July 2010). China also announced its intention to purchase eight more submarines for its navy. The Chinese Navy is expected to have at least 25 Yuan-class submarines in service by 2025.