Chinese Submarine That Sunk Had Exotic Hybrid Nuclear Powerplant: Report

New details are coming to light about China’s Type 041 Zhou class submarine and its experimental propulsion system. - THOMAS NEWDICK

• The mysterious Chinese submarine that apparently sunk in a shipyard earlier this year was the first of a new class featuring a hybrid nuclear/conventional propulsion system, according to a new report...
• In a recent report citing unnamed defense officials, the Washington Times notes that the Type 041 “employs both conventional and nuclear propulsion,” specifically, “a small nuclear reactor” in addition to a conventional powerplant...
• The Type 039A is the first Chinese submarine with an air-independent propulsion (AIP) system, which greatly increases the time that it can remain submerged and makes it harder to detect, compared with traditional conventionally powered subs...