A Chinese sailor deployed aboard a nuclear-armed submarine vowed that his unit would fire missiles “without hesitation” upon receiving an order, according to a report by state media. The report by China Central Television also claimed this was the “first disclosure” of a new Chinese submarine conducting a long-distance mission in an undisclosed maritime location. China possesses more than 370 naval vessels, making it the world’s largest combat fleet by hull count, including six Type 094 nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines, each armed with 12 nuclear ballistic missiles, according to the Federation of American Scientists. All Type 094 submarines are homeported at Longpo Naval Base on Hainan Island in southern China, which borders the South China Sea, and represent China’s “first credible sea-based nuclear deterrent,” the Pentagon assessed in its report on Chinese military power. Ballistic missile submarines are the most survivable leg of China’s nuclear triad, alongside land-based ballistic missiles and nuclear-capable bombers, because they are extremely difficult to detect while conducting patrols that maintain a constant at-sea deterrent presence. A Chinese submarine, unidentified in the report, was seen departing a naval base at an undisclosed location, according to footage aired by China Central Television on Thursday. Australia-based naval analyst Alex Luck told Newsweek the submarine is one of six Type 094 boats in service, suggesting the footage was likely taken at Longpo Naval Base. It remains unclear whether the submarine carried out its mission in the South China Sea.

Full report : China State Media Reveals New Nuclear-Armed Submarine.