The RPK-7 "Strong Wind" long-range submarine-launched anti-submarine missile can only be launched from a 650 mm torpedo tube: the RPK-7 "Strong Wind" became the main anti-submarine weapon of the Soviet Navy's nuclear submarines after entering service in 1979 – it surpassed the series of submarine anti-submarine missiles equipped by NATO;
(949 Oscar-class nuclear submarines)
RPK-7 was developed in the late 1970s, it is a 650 mm caliber anti-ship / anti-submarine missile, a total length of 6.5 meters, a bullet diameter of 0.65 meters, a flight speed of Mach 3, a maximum range of 120 km, from the submarine's 650 mm torpedo tube relying on compressed air launch, the missile relies on the power of its own rocket engine at a 45 degree angle out of the water, flying towards the target; its conventional warhead is a UGMT-1 anti-submarine torpedo, and the nuclear warhead is a depth bomb with a 10,000-ton equivalent;
Under normal circumstances, the RPK-7 is fitted with a warhead of a 400 mm Type 86R torpedo with a warhead weight of 60 kg and a speed of 46 knots. The torpedo separates from the missile after flying near the target, parachutes into the water and looks for underwater targets on its own; the missile can be equipped with a Type 88R nuclear depth charge warhead with an equivalent of 10,000-20,000 tons, which is powerful enough to destroy any underwater target. Once exploded, submarines within 4 to 6 kilometers are almost doomed; submarines equipped with RPK-2/6 anti-submarine missiles include 671 Victor class, 945 Sierra class, 971 Akula class, 949 Oscar class and other nuclear submarines with 650 mm torpedo tubes, as the main long-range anti-submarine weapons, generally carry 4, of which 2 are nuclear charge;
(The torpedo tube layout of the Akula-class nuclear submarine is similar to that of the 093 class)
Also due to the difficulty of maintenance and maintenance costs of nuclear weapons, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, Russia almost immediately retired various types of anti-submarine weapons equipped with nuclear warheads, many of which were technical data and samples and weapons were smuggled by the Russian army to sell to Western countries, and Western countries thus obtained the detailed performance of the Soviet Union's high-speed submarine-launched nuclear missiles;
After the collapse of the Soviet Union, China obtained bubble torpedo technology through Kazakhstan, air-launched cruise missiles and anti-submarine missile technical data through Ukraine, and combined with China's independently developed submarine-launched anti-ship missile platform, developed a combination of Chinese and Western submarine-launched anti-submarine/anti-ship missiles; however, their power to kill enemy nuclear aircraft carrier formations is limited: "one boat destroys one group" Is insufficient;
China's new 093-class tactical attack nuclear submarines have been equipped with four 650mm torpedo tubes: this means that China's large-caliber submarine-launched anti-submarine missiles have also been equipped with submarine forces. So, as the core of China's underwater strategic escort and the vanguard of the assault, does the 093 class have the ability to launch anti-submarine nuclear missiles?
In the 1980s, Chinese submarines used the West as a division and made Western-style improvements to conventional and nuclear submarines: a large number of Western underwater acoustic equipment and armaments entered active service. The 650mm caliber torpedo tube belongs to a very rare caliber: unless China obtains a revolutionary submarine-launched weapon, it will not easily change the submarine-launched weapon system;
If we follow the development idea of China's submarine-launched anti-submarine missiles, China's 093 class originally referred to the Soviet "Victory III" class as a technical blueprint, and partially integrated the more advanced production technology and technology of the Akula class (Akula class);
In 2001, the first 093 class into service in the Chinese Navy, it is said to be equipped with Russian large-caliber torpedoes and anti-submarine missiles, and the subsequent construction of the 093 class equipped with their improved domestic models. China's nuclear warhead miniaturization skills are deep: tactical-level surface-to-ground tactical nuclear missileheads were developed very early on — again in the 1980s. It is estimated that after the successful implementation of China's "double introduction" project in the 1990s, the nuclear industry was able to take off: the submarine-launched anti-submarine nuclear missile type, power, and shape design should achieve technological breakthroughs. Moreover, in the face of all-round sanctions and suppression by the United States, the number of 093 classes is scarce, the underwater acoustic equipment cannot be suppressed across generations, and there is no restriction on the armament of the underwater nuclear fleet of the US Empire.