China nuclear missile development steps up a gear with test of weapon capable of hitting US mainland

China has moved to speed up development of its most advanced submarine-launched nuclear missile, a weapon capable of striking the US mainland, military sources have said.
Two independent sources told the South China Morning Post that the Chinese navy had tested the JL-3, or Julang (or “Big Wave”) missile – which it ultimately intends to pair with its next-generation nuclear submarines.

It was launched from Bohai Bay in the Yellow Sea late last month, with the warhead landing in the northwest Gobi Desert in Xinjiang.

Unlike the previous three tests, which used a conventional Type 032 submarine, the latest launch was conducted using the Type 094 nuclear submarine, according to one source. But the military ultimately plans to arm the Type 096 submarine with the missiles, a process that could take years to complete.


The missile was launched from a Type 094 nuclear submarine. Photo: AFPThe missile was launched from a Type 094 nuclear submarine. Photo: AFP
The missile was launched from a Type 094 nuclear submarine. Photo: AFP
China has moved to speed up development of its most advanced submarine-launched nuclear missile, a weapon capable of striking the US mainland, military sources have said.
Two independent sources told the South China Morning Post that the Chinese navy had tested the JL-3, or Julang (or “Big Wave”) missile – which it ultimately intends to pair with its next-generation nuclear submarines.

It was launched from Bohai Bay in the Yellow Sea late last month, with the warhead landing in the northwest Gobi Desert in Xinjiang.
Unlike the previous three tests, which used a conventional Type 032 submarine, the latest launch was conducted using the Type 094 nuclear submarine, according to one source. But the military ultimately plans to arm the Type 096 submarine with the missiles, a process that could take years to complete.

The JL-3 test was first reported by The Washington Times on Christmas Eve in an article that cited Pentagon sources who said the launch had been conducted on December 22 and monitored by US satellites and other intelligence platforms.

Chinese military observers said Beijing’s missile tests were in response to moves from US President Donald Trump to target the country – along with Russia and North Korea – in his deterrence strategy.
“Construction work on the Type 096 nuclear ballistic missile submarine is not finished. In order to speed up the JL-3’s full development, missile testing and submarine development have been separated,” said the source, who requested anonymity due to the sensitivities surrounding the topic.