Julang-3 (JL-3)
TypeSLBM
Place of originPeople's Republic of China
Service history
In service2022
Used byPeople's Liberation Army Navy
Specifications
Warhead3 nuclear warheads
PropellantSolid-fuel rocket
Operational
range
9,000 km (5,600 mi)+
Guidance
system
Astro-inertial with Beidou
Launch
platform
Type 094 submarine

The JL-3 (Chinese: 巨浪-3; pinyin: Jù Làng Sān; lit. 'Giant Wave 3'; NATO reporting name: CSS-NX-20[1]) is a Chinese third-generation intercontinental-range submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM). It arms the Type 094 submarine,[2] and is expected to arm the future Type 096.[1]

History

The first test flight occurred on 24 November 2018 in the Bohai Sea; it was likely a test of the launch tube's cold-launch ejection system.[3] According to anonymous Chinese sources, the Type 032 submarine made the first three test launches, with a Type 094 making the fourth in December 2019.[4]

In 2020, anonymous Chinese sources reported that development of the JL-3 and Type 096 had been decoupled to speed missile development, and that it would take at least five years to integrate the missile with the submarine.[4]

In November 2022, the United States Navy reported that the Type 094 was rearmed with the JL-3.[2]

Description

The JL-3 is reported as a solid-fueled missile with ranges of over 9,000 km (5,600 mi)[3] or 10,000 km (6,200 mi).[4]

The Center for Strategic and International Studies reports the likely payload to be three MIRV nuclear warheads.[5]

References

  1. ^ a b United States Department of Defense (29 November 2022). Annual Report To Congress: Military and Security Developments Involving the People's Republic of China 2022 (PDF) (Report). p. 96. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
  2. ^ a b Capaccio, Anthony (18 November 2022). "China Has Put Longer-Range ICBMs on Its Nuclear Subs, US Says". Bloomberg. Retrieved 19 November 2022.
  3. ^ a b Shaikh, Shaan (21 December 2018). "China Flight Tests New JL-3 SLBM". Missile Threat. Center for Strategic and International Studies. Retrieved 29 December 2018.
  4. ^ a b c Chan, Minnie (January 4, 2020). "China nuclear missile development steps up a gear with test of weapon capable of hitting US mainland". South China Morning Post. Archived from the original on January 9, 2020.
  5. ^ "How is China Modernizing its Nuclear Forces?". Center for Strategic and International Studies. 10 December 2019. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
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